TWO DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS O F THE ARMY AND Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C., April 6, 1897. HowARD, AINSLEE & Co., Pu b lis h ers of the Army and Navy Weekly, New York City. Gent lemen :-Such a publication as you propose would certainly be of much benefit to t h e youth of the country. A knowledge of the history of our country which is w i t h glorious deeds of brave and patnot1c me n would serve to inspire t h em with a love of country and give them examples that they s h ou l d emulate The inculcation in the mi n ds and hearts of our youth of love of the flag ought to be in every way e n couraged. Let t h em become strong men p h ysically mentally that they may serve their country m the h our of need. To that e n d I would e n courage athletic sports carried on with a m anly and magnanimous spirit. Let our boys strive to do all they can to make the '!.ame of a n American citizen a still prouder title and t o be o n e o f the best and most respected. I a m with best wishes for your Majot Cenol'al, U S. Arrtrf NAVY WEEKLY New York City, HowARD, AINSLEE & Co., Publishers of the Army and Navy Weekly, New York City. April 20, 1897. Gentlemen :-Any publication tending to increase the patriotism of our youth is nece ssa rily a good one. We cannot have too much love of country. Upon that foun dation is based the very existence of the government. To-day, as in all times, the evidence of patriotism is not only in fighting for one's country, but in upholding the law of the land During the revo l ution the farmer seized his musket and went to the front; the sailor l eft his ship and took arms in the naval service in these times our boys nter the government academies with the expecta tion that some day they may be called upon to fight for the Republic. The two branches of the service-the Army and Navy-are distinct, but they have a common cause-the defence of the Union. The commissioned officers of the American Navy are taken from the graduates of the Naval Academy. They enter there as fresh from homeiare taught rigorously and trained with unsparing discipline tor six years, and are then commissioned as ensigns in active service. The Naval Academy is a great institution, and a lad gains there not only an education fit ting him for the naval service but for practical business life, with the addition of man l iness and a sense of obedience. The life is simple, and the location o{ the school an excel lent one for the purpose. l wish you success in your new venture.

MARK MALLORY AT WEST POINT. By Lie-..;a.t. Frederick Ga.rriso:ri9 u. s. A.. CHAPTER I. A MIDNIGHT PROWLER. Rat-tat! rat-tat! rat-tat! "Oh, bother! There's tattoo, and it means bed. Confound it, I wish we weren't piled off like children at half-past nine on a summer's night!" "You old grumbler," laughed the speaker's companion. "You kick the same way when they wake you up at dawn to see the best part of the day." "I don't think it is the best part of the day. I'd rather do my seeing for two hours more right now, and then make up for it in the morning." "Go tell that to the superintendent, laughed the other, "or to the marines." "Well, I mean it all the same." And Wicks Merritt brought his heels down to the ground with an angry bang. He and his companion, Harry Graham, cadets in their second year at West Point, had been lying beneath a tree upon the edge of the camp; Harry with his feet braced against the trunk, and Wicks less inverted, but equally comfortable. From ac ross the broad parade ground which stretcbed out before them, had come, in the stillness of the August evening, a faint echo of the strains of a guitar and th-e two had been listening to the sound, when the rude rattle of the drum had drowned it, and caused Wick's disgusted exclamation. They arose from their places, Wicks still grumbling. He shook his fist in mock rage at the innocent cause of the trouble, a meek little "music" who stuod by the quartermaster's tent and sounded his warning through the camp, and then turned and followed his companions to their tent. "Say, Harry," he growled, as they entered, "let's dodge camp." "Oh, bother you! We've been doing that too much as it is Now you just get into the habit of running into town, and some fine day you '11 get caught. That means dismissal.'' "I won't get caught then." "That's what many a fox has said, fooling round a trap." "You needn't begin to preach at me, because you're up to it just as much as I. I'm sick of being put to bed at this hour, and I'm going. Come with me."

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. . ,J .... :.-,, _ ... ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 3 "Don't I always go with you, you chump? Come ahead.,, "It didn't take you very long to change your mind, laughed Wicks. "I guess because there's not much to change. But it isn't your fault. Let's get ready.,, Getting ready consisted in getting into bed and putting out the lights, and waiting for the camp to quiet down sufficiently. Mean-while let us go outside for a look about the place. West Point! The training school of the various heroes, the Mecca toward which are turned the eyes of every boy who longs to become a hero of the future. The spot needs to be described in detail. It is situated on the West bank of the Hudson, some fifty miles above New York. A steep bluff, difficult of ascent, rises from the bank; at its foot runs the West Shore road; and up above, upon a level plain, are the academy grounds. Tow.ird the south are the barracks, and numerous other buildings; north from them stretches a vast parade ground, and still further on, and near the river bank, one comes upon the summer camping ground of the corps. Here are the tents, arranged in four parallel rows, "Company Streets." It is into one of these tents, one on an inside row, tbat our two friends have disappeared. Disappeared, but only for a time. Roll ca11 and tattoo have passed some half hour ago. The sentinels had begun their weary march about the spot; the last signal "lights out," had been given, and the camp had sunk into tl1e slumbers of the night. There was a movement then in one of the tents, that belonging to the two scamps whose plan had been told. A flap was pushed carefully aside, and a head protruded. After a cautious glance about, came a muttered exclamation. "The coast is clear!" The head was followed by a body which dodged quickly around and hid between the tents. It was Wicks Merritt; a moment later his companion followed him and the two crouched behind the shelter and waited. Then came a grinding tread down the street and past their tent-a tread which made them hug the ground in sudden alarm. "H's an officer," whispered Harry. The footsteps died away in the distance and silence came again. "I bet that's old Scad wandering about!" exclaimed Wicks "Heavens, I hope he don't run over us! I wonder how late it is.', As if in answer to his question came the sentinel's call: "Half-past ten and all's well "Come on," whispered Wicks, "and say," he added, "we'll have to be extra careful to-night. Sentry Number Five--" "It's a plebe!" "No, sir, it's Hopkins, in our own class. And he's got eyes like a cat.'' The two made their way along cautiously, dodging and crouching, favored by the darkness of the night. They passd the last tent in the street; and then lying flat, with their ears to the ground, they waited and listened for the sentry's tread. "Hang it!" muttered Wicks, "it's so dark I can't tell where he is at all.'' "He's somewhere out in that direction," responded the other. pointing, "for I see the tents behind us." -"Well, come on; if we can't see him, he can't see us." The two crept forward again, feeling their way ahead, step oy

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f ARMY .A.ND N.A. VY WEEKLY. step through the pitchy darkness. How far they went they could not tell, for by chis time they were well confused. They had progressed but a short way more, before they met with something which caused their hearts to leap in sudden alarm. There was a cracking of a twig, and a moment later a figure loomed up right at their sides. Both the cadets sprang back; and then as the situation occurred to them clearly, they saw that they were gone. "Jig's up," said Wicks, boldly and aloud, "it's the sentry. His companion, seized with faint hope, though 11e was not three feet from the figure, wheeled and started to run. Wicks, determined to make at least a desperate effort, turned to follow. But both were brought to a stop a moment later, as clear and loud rang out the order: "Halt!" "We're out of the academy for good," groaned Harry, as he and awaited the sentry's approach. The figure, dim and indistinct in the darkness, came up with a slow and measured tread, the two captives waiting impatiently and anxiously. Nearer and nearer he drew, without uttering an6ther sound, and without once varying bis dignified gait, until he was within touch of the two boys. And then suddenly through a break in the clouds the moon peered out and lit up the curious scene The effect was magical; the two leaped back in surprise and alarm. "Why, it's not the sentry at all!" cried Wicks. "Not the sentry!" echoed Hany. A load was lihed from their minds, and yet they knew not whether to be glad or alarmed at the strange apparition which con fronted them. Wicks took one hasty glance about the spot. "We're way off from camp!" he cried. "We're safe!" And then eager with curiosity and alarm, he leaned forward and peered into the face of 'the strange night vision. It was indeed an apparition to startle one. Before them stood a boy of about seventeen, tall and handsome, and with a smile upon his face as he eyed the two frightened cadets Frightened and no wonder! For the face of the strange prowler who had caused them all their alarm; who had tricked tl1em into waiting for his approach, and who stared at them, now out of the darkness; his face was covered with blood CHAPTER II. MARK MALLORY. The two cadets gazed at the strange figure in surprise and alarm. It was several moments before either could muster courage to break the creepy silence, and meanwhile the young man stood motionless, with the same light smile playipg about his mouth. The moonbeams through the scattered foliage of the trees above lighted up his figure and the red smear upon his face. At last Wicks Merritt broke out into an exclamation of amaze ment. "Well, I'll be switc11ed. I-er--" He stopped abruptly, unable to find any word that would express bis feelings. The stranger laughed lightly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he replied, in a clear cool voice. The two cadets took courage at the sound.

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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 5 The most uncanny circumstance about the whole affair had been the mysterious silence which the queer personage maintained; when he spoke it at ]east made him seem human, and besides there was something prepossessing in the pleasant tone. "\Vho in thunder are you i" querred Harry, speaking more boldly and leaning forward to peer into the stranger's face. "And what the deuce do you want?" added Wicks. "II you rea11y w,mt answers," laughed the stranger, "I wish you'd put on the brake and just please tell me where 'l am." "Where are you? This is West Point." "West Point, and where is that?" "Don'tyou knuw where West Point is? Great heavens! Where do you come from anyhow-Africa?" ''Denham'sGulch, Colorado, U.S. A., at your service.'' "But it doesn't explain what 'you 're doing here." "I'm not doing anything very much. I was hunting for somebody to direct me somewheres.'' "And what made you fool us that way?" "Nothing, only I heard you say that I was a sentry, and I wanted you to come back and help me. So I called a halt, and you halted." "I see," growled Wicks. "That was a very smart trick; but you might have gotten us in a thundering scrape." "It wouldn't have been a much worse scrape than I got just now. My head feels loose yet." "What's wrong with you?" "Lots of things. It would take a whole bushel of doctors to find them all out." "How did you get here?" "I came down on the express." "Not the night express?" "Yes.'' "You couldn't have." "Why not?" "It d oesn, t stop here. ,, "I know that very well. But I stopped.,, "You don't mean you jumped?" "Amounts to the same. I fell." "Fell off the express!" Both the cadets gazed on the stranger m amazement, and the exclamation escaped them in chorus. "Great heavens!" added Wicks, "and why weren't you killed?" "I'm not exactly sure that Pm not. I woke up in a ditch a while ago. When I saw you fellows, I thought I'd struck the vanguard of the ghosts. I see they're white trousers though. Why do you wear them?" "These are our cadet uniforms," answered Harry with some dignity. "Humph! Cadets! Where at?" "At the Military Academy. Didn't you ever hear of that? Get:', you must be buried out where you live." ''They'd bury me to-night, I think, if they saw me. But it seems to me I have heard of West Point. My wits are pretty well rattled just now. Isn't this where you learn to be army officers?" "Yes." "And are you learning?"

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6 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. "Exactly." "It looks as if the first thing they had taught you was to run." The-two cadets colored. "Anybody'd run from you," said Wicks; "you 're a sight." ''I must be for a fact,'' said the stranger, passing his band across his brow in a dazed sort of a way. "My head feels rather uncertain," he added. "You ought to be after your adventures. Tell us bow it hap-pened.'' / "I was standing out on the platform star gazing, and-philoso phizing upon the beauty of things in general. Then the car gave a lurch. I have a vague recollection of hitting a sand bank and then a ditch; at least, I think that was the order. I won't swear; I may have hit the ditch first and bounced up on to the sand bank. I can't be sure because I didn't take any notes. Anyhow, I wound up in the ditch eventually, more or less complicated al?d scattered about. When I woke up again I was still there. I heard some noises, drums and what not up on the hill, so I came up to find somebody. I found you. And that's all." "It's enough," commented Wicks, "or it would be for most people. I don't know a 'bout you Westerners. What's your name?,, "Mark Mallory it used to be, as late as yesterday. But I lost con s ciousness, breath and blood :-I don't know whether I've kept my name or not." "Corne," said Harry ; "I guess you'd better tell this to the doctor.'' "That's what I was thinking. That's the reason I scared you to death playing sentry Where is a doctor ?P "There is one at the post, but we can't take you to him." "Why n ot?" "We're out on Fre nch leave. If we took you in,.there'd be questions asked, and the n there'd have to be questions answered." "I see. So you can t take me in. I guess I stay out then." "Could y ou walk a mile?" "Yes. I slid one in a ditch." "Well, suppose we take you down to town then; there's a doctor there who'll plaster you up in style." The two cadets placed themselves upon either side of their new acquaintance to help him along, and thus they made their way along the edge of the bluff, southward toward the village. With some difficulty they managed to keep out of sight of the parade ground and the open field until they reached the road which l e d down from the bluff to the railroad track and the river. Down this they turned. "That's one of our ways of reaching town safely," exclaimed Harry. "We go dG>wn the track instead of keeping to the wagon road and having to pass a lot of officers and sentries, and lord knows what." "I'm a little shy of railroads, to-night," laughed the stranger. "It would be just your luck to be scooped up on the cow-catcher of another train and made all well again.'' They beguiled the time with jokes and songs as they made their way down the track. Their new companion impress e d "'the two as being a most pleasant sort of a chap indeed. He had a quiet, grim sort of hum or which kept his con versa ti on interesting "I should like to know him better," thoug11t Wicks to himself.

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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 7 Wicks did not know that while he and his companion were chaffing the Westerner, and while the latter was joining in their fun, he was gritting his teeth and struggling in pain. 1t was left to the doctor to discover that at the end of the journey. CHAPTER III. MARK REVEALS A MYSTERY. The village of Highland Falls, or Cranstons, is situated about a mile south of the Point. It may as well be said right here that the cadets of the Academy are not supposed to visit Falls. Cadets limits only include the government prop erty, which stops about half way there. But then what the cadets do, and what they are supposed to do, may be imagined as differing somewhat. This was not the first time that Merritt and his chum had see11 Cranstons; and there were others in the class who had bad habits, too. This time, however, there was no stopping for suppers, skylarkings, or anything else; the three made their way at once to the doctor's house and confronted that surprised gentleman at his door. "What on earth is the matter?" he cried, as he espied the trio. "That's just what we want you to find out," said Wicks. "We have been training for foot-ball and we practiced too hard. And doctor"-here Wicks put his finger to bis lips and looked solemn. "Doctor, you understand! Mum!" "Certainly," said the doctor. "We have risked our commissions to bring this young man to you," added Harry, virtuously. The doctor looked duly appreciative. Perhaps he didn't know that the same two scamps were wont to risk the same commissions for an oyster supper; at any rate, he was too discreet to say so. He assisted the stranger, who by this time was well exhausted, to a sofa, while Merritt was explaining the accident, and with many exclamations fell to work, ascertaining the damages. ''A sprained wrist-nice one, too-cuts, bruises galore-a few pints of blood gone-and other little matters. Do you feel any internal pains?" "I feel so many I can't tell which is which." "Well, I don't know. So far as I see it's only a matter of time. But it is the most extraordinary accident I ever heard of. Fell off the express! You have a guardian angel, young man.'' As the doctor was bathing the stranger's wounds the two cadets standing by the bedside had their first opportnnity to look the latter over. He was a lad of about their own age, seventeen; his face was handsome, and in spite of the paleness resulting from the accident, was tanned with exposure, and ruddy with health; his hair soiled and matted just then, was evidently brown and curly; and as to the strength that was in his magnificently developed frame, Wicks turned to his companion and observed: ''Look, Harry Did you see an arm to beat that? I bet that fellow could floor an ox." "I don't believe he could hurt a baby now." "I'd hate to be the baby. I wish we could get him up here to play foot-ball." "He's a long way from that now," laughed Harry. And yet as it turned out, Mark Mallory was not so far from it after all.

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8 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. He :or his part, while this discussion was going on, was lying upon the sofa more or less in pain, according as the doctor shifted the seat of his operations. Occasionally he stole a glance at the two cadets. They were, neither of them very handsome fellows. Wicks was long and skinny. Harry had a pug nose which turned up at the slightest warning. "It's all in that uniform," thought Mark, "that makes them look handsome.'' The West Point uniform is one whose effect must be seen to be appreciated. It is simple-a close-fitting gray jacket trimmed with gold, and white-duck trousers; yet it sets off a military figure to perfection. There is a saying that cadets are all handsome. "I wonder what sort of a life they lead," mused Mark. "I think I should like to be in the army." His thoughts were interrupted by the doctor. "There's no use," said he slyly to the two cadets, "of your risking those commissions any longer. I'll take care of your friend and you may return to camp. And I think he'll get well all right; he's the kind that stand hard knocks." "Come up to camp and see us," said Wicks as they left. "We'll show you around-Professor Marco Malloree, champion trapeze jumper and sensational flying expressman-exhibition daily." "I'll be out to-morrow all right, I guess," said the invalid smiling. "If you talk that way," said the doctor, "I shall lock you up in jail, because you are to stay abed for two weeks at least." "And now, young man," he continued, when the two cadets were gone, "and now tell me something about yourself. Where were you going?" "To New York." "Why?" "To attend to some mining matters for my employer. I won't be able to attend to it promptly, so l suppose I'll be discharged." "He'll make allowances for this if he's the right kind of man." "Yes, I suppose so," said Mark, getting some comfort out of the reflection. "Is your father living?" asked the doctor. "No, but my mother is. She is an invalid, and I take care of her. But I don't know what I shall do if I am discharged." "A pleasant state of affairs," said the doctor. "Have you any money with you?'' "Twenty dcllars and a ticket home." "That's not as much as it might be. It wouldn't pay your hotel bil 1." "Then what am I to do?" "Stay here with me." "Oh, sir, I cannot!" "If you cannot, and at the same time cannot do otherwise, I do not know what you are to do, except you do as you 're told. I am an old bachelor with an empty 110use, and I like you." "I can never repay you, sir!" "That's just the part I like; and now my young express jumper, write a telegram to yom employer, and then go to sleep and stay so till I tell you to stop.'' And without another word the doctor turned and marched out of the room.

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.ARMY .A.ND N.A.VY WEEKLY. 9 CHAPTER IV. WEST POINT. The amount of time that Mark Mallory spent in undergoing repairs was finally determined by a compromise. In the course of a few days having a little leisure time on his hands (for the doctor would not think of trusting him to leave his care as yet), Mark succeeded in finding his way up to West Point again. This time he made tht: trip by daylight, and by the main road, which runs parallel to the river and up on the bluff. There are fine views from that road. The Hudson rolls by at its foot, and fades away Northward and Southward into the dim line of its bordering hills. But to Mark it was nothing. He came from the land of Pikes' Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Besides, he-had other things to think abo11t just then. He was wandering about West Point, trying to recall what he had read of it, and trying to imagine what it would be like. There is a stone building, one of a row of the officers' houses, upon the left-hand side of the road, which blocks off for a moment the view of one approaching. Passing that, the Academy Building and the class hall are in full sight. Mark stopped when he came to the latter, for from within its gray stone walls came a confused murmur and clatter, a medley of voices and plates. "It's the cadets at dinner, I guess," thought Mark. "I think I'll stay here awhile." He could see through the open windows the backs of some of the cadets, all apparently busy; up the street in the distance was the parade ground, and beyond it a bunch of white tents could be distinguished amid the trees. "I suppose that's the camp," mused the stranger. "The place I came so near the other night. But I'll be ble s::ied if I see just how the land Jies. Ah! what's that? There comes a fellow out of the door. He has a re
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10 ARMY .A.ND NA VY WEEKLY. were standing in the centre of the courtyard and staring at l1im, and making no bones about it either. "I may be a curiosity," thought Mark. "But I'll be hanged if I want as much notice as that. They aren't paying me at this dime museum." Still the three cadets stared and grinned. One was a big fellow nearly as stalwart as Mark; the other two were dapper little chaps with a dudish sort of an air. "I don't guess they're very great shakes," mused Mark. "I believe I could lick the crowd, but I shan't try it with only one arm. I'll not pay any attention to them; that's what I'll do." He stared about him at the now nearly deserted barracks with their stern gray walls and frowning dark battlements; he stared at the clock across the way in the guard-house; and then uncon sciously his eyes wandered back to the solitary group in the centre. The group still stared and grinned. Evidently it was a huge joke. Mark was getting angry. "I don't mind it so much," he thought, "but it's so deucedly rude. I believe I'll try staring back. '' He tried that; but it didn't seem to have much effect either. "I wonder how long this is going to last," he exclaimed. "I'll bet it don't last much longer without my saying something." It went right on lasting in spite of Mark's threat, and at last he could stand it no more. "What in thunder are you fellows staring at, any way?" he demanded angrily. Instantly the three cadets sprang back in alarm, opening their mouths in amazement. They 'Yere silent with horror for at least a minute, as if striving to grasp the situation. And at last the big fellow spoke, in solemn and measured tones. "Candidate! Candidate! How dare you speak, sir, until you are spoken to?'' And this, as may naturally be imagined, amazed and perplexed our hero. He stood silentl y puzzling over it-and then suddenly the truth broke in upon him "The y think I'm a candidate for next year. And-by George! -they're going to haze me." Sure enough the three had started with measured tread to ap proach him. The grin was gone now, and instead was a look of intense solemnity. "What shall I do," thought Mark, "shall I tell I'm not one? Pshaw, that would spoil all the fun! I believe. I'll wait and see what they'll do. The joke'll be all on them." The three approached, still solemn. "I wish I had two well arms, or else some fire arms," mused Mark. "I wouldn't be afraid of them then. But I suppose I can run away and live to fight another day.'' By this time the hazers were within two feet of him. There they halted and glared. Mark glared back. "If I don't have some fun with them," he thought, "it won't be because I don't try. "If we don't have some fun with him," thought the cadets, "it won't be because we don't try." There was fun enough for both.

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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. l] CHAPTER V. HAZING 'I'HE HAZERS. There used to be a time at West Point when hazing was no joke; there used to be a time when to be hazed meant to be pushed and hauled and kicked and punched, until one's body was black and blue; to be tossed in blankets and ridden on rails and flung into ice water; all of which the authorities did not encourage, they at least permitted by laxity of discipline. Nowadays that has all passed, and it had in our hero's time. The strictest of rules strictly enforced has done away with the objectionable features of hazing. There is seldom any bodily pain inflicted. The laws, too, have tried to do away with even the mildest forms, but of course they have not suc ceeded. So long as one class is hazed, it is sure to haze the next one for revenge. 1 If it cannot be done in public it is done on the sly. Now, in the first place, when a plebe comes to West Point (a plebe is a cadet in his fourth year, the lowest class) he has one thing to learn; if he does not learn it in short order, he is taught in shorter. And that is that he is the most' unimportant, insignificant nonentity upon the face of the earth. He is a creature of the lowest social rank (plebe being short for plebeian). He is made for everybody to boss, from the lowest yearling corporal to the superintendent of the Academy; he is to do just as be is told with no whys or wherefores; he must say "sir" to everybody; speak when he is spoken to; and look at all times as if he would like to sink through the floor. lt takes some people a mi_ght of a time to learn that the world could go on without them; but it seldom takes a plebe very long, for every one he meets drums it into him; and if he continues fresh and insubordinate he soon finds that be bas insulted some one, and is invited over across the parade ground to Fort Clinton to fight it out, with the ultimate necessity of doing one by one the whole three classes above him. Most plebes do not get very far in that. These are the weapons in the bands of the strangers' superiors. There is one more course the plebe might adopt-he might report to the commandant the haze and the hazers, which should mean immediate expulsion for the latter. But it would also mean social ostracism for the tell tale; and so nobody tries that step. If the plebe is sensible, and has been termed beforehand, what he does do is just as he is told, thereby soon becoming considered a very re spectable sort of a person, and but a poor subject for torment. Of course, Mark Mallory, being nocandidate, was privileged to be as "sassy" as he pleased. He could have his fun unpunished, except by personal violence, which he rightly conjectured, would not be tried upon him, injured as he was. It was to be a war of words; and our hero got the best of it. The big feilow did look terribly imposing as he squared himself off in front of Mark, and folded his arms solemnly. "As a preliminary," he growled (he did everything slowly so as to appear imposing). "As a preliminary, will you have the kindness to asseverate the fact that you are or not a candidate, thereby greatly illuminating our mental horizon and determining our future course of action.'' Mark chuckled gleefully to himself and winked familiarly at the grave cadets. . ...

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12 ARMY AXD NAVY WEEKLY. "I'm three or four," he said. The three cadets groaned dismally and looked stern. That answer meant to them a great deal. It meant in the first place that there was a candidate who dared to be facetious; who had so little respect for rank, and so high an opinion of himself, that he dared to be impertinent to a cadet. Ahem! It means too, that he was a youngster who refused to "sir" his superiors, a most heinous crime, the unpardonable sin. After the groan there was another impressive silence. Then the spokesman, the big fellow, began again. "Candidate, it is very evident that you are B. J." "It would be more evident to me," laughed Mark, easily, "if I knew what B. J. meant." "B. J." said foe solemn spokesman, "being literally translated vernacular, signifies 'before June.' We apply the term to one who is in vulgar language 'fresh.' A plebe who is B. J. is odious enough, but a candidate, a whole year behind a plebe-bah!" "What shall we do with snch a creature?" chimed in the other two. "Alas! What?" "It is a matter of very little importance to me," said Mark, "provided you do not stare me." "The corps must know of this!" growled the three. "There is one hope, one hope," added the tall fellow," he may never be admitted. I shall use all my influence to prevent it." "Too bad," said Mark. "I see I have made enemies of influential people. '' "You have, sir!" "And I have no doubt that influence counts for a great deal in the examinations.'' That hit the cadets in a sore spot, and they did not know just what to say. If there is anything that cadets boast of it is that influence counts for nothing whatsoever. So there was an embarrassed silence. Mark chuckled inwardly. "Candidate," began the spokesman of the cadets, "at last it is quite evident that you are incorrigible. But you will find, sir, above all things that the Academy examinations are exceedingly impartial, and far too difficult for you, sir." "Are they really so bad, sir?" asked Mark innocently. There was no answer, but one of the cadets slowly and impressively took a paper from the inside of his jacket. It was a large and officious looking document. "Candidate, listen! Here are questions, real questions, sir! Do you desire to hear them?" "Why, yes, really if you'll be so kind, I'll be ever so much obliged to you for your consideration." The large cadet began to read: "'U. S. Military Academy, West Point, August 12th. Examination in Tactics and Ordnance--' "I didn't know I'd be examined in that," said Mark. "There is much that candidates do not know!" was the crushing answer. "If one ten-inch rifle mounted upon a Wickenoffski parapet will throw a two hundred and thirty-eight pound dynamite projectile a distance of six miles, how far will two such guns similarly mounted throw the same? Ahem!" "I have heard it said--" began Mark. "It is surprising," put in the questioner, "that you could have

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ARMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. 13 stopped talking long enough to hear anything said But what have you heard?'' "That a fool can ask more ouestions in a minute than a wise man can answer in a life time.,,There was silence, quite thick, after that. The three cadets gasped and grew red in the face and stammered. "You evidently think,,, began the big fellow angrily. "I am glad to know I show signs of it," s a id Mark, and then he bowed politely. "Now, gentlemen," he added, "I thank you most sincerely for your pleasant quarter of an hour, and I trust that you have enjoyed it as much as I. In conclusion let me say that since I am not really a candidate--" "Not a candidate!" cried the tall fellow. "Not a candidate," echoed Mark, "and here comes two friends of mine, and so, "-a polite bow-" good-day.,, "Great heavens, mar:," cried the three together, running after him. "Please don't tell the cadets. It'd ruin us!" "I am not mean," said Mark, "though I like a joke. I shall not.,, And the three hazers vanished through the sally port. Mark went up and joined Wicks and Harry. CHAPTER VI. THE FERRYBOAT TO GARRISON'S. It wo!lld take much space to tell what Mark saw in those few days he spent in the company of his friends. He wandered about the grounds and the camp with them that afternoon, inspecting buildings and tents, and monuments, and cannon and what not. He studied the cadets and their life, and asked all sorts of questions about it, wondering all the while how he should like it; and finding more and more that he thought he should like it very well indeed. He sat upon the edge of the parade ground late that Saturday afternoon, and watched the full-dress parade, three-hundred cadets moving in most perfect unison to music that awakened all the military spirit that was in him. He went that mght to the full-dress hop, and stood shyly in the doorway thinking that he should like very much to be in the midst of it all; he went to the chapel on Sunday morning and was thrilled by the sound of three hundred voices filling the place with the strains of a hymn which swept him back to a little church in bis little home. He spent that afternoon wandering about through the woods with his two friends. On Monday he stood by the battle monument on the edge of the parade ground, gazing northward far up the valley of the Hudson, while just below him thundered the mounted battery with which the cadets were practising. Later be sat and watched the artillery evolutions upon the cavalry plain; and when it was over, and Wicks and Harry joined him again, our hero's mind was made up for the future as it had never been before. "Fellows," he said, and he looked them in the eye and meant it, "I am coming to West Point." Wicks stared at him for a moment and then he seized him by the hand. "Old man,,, he cried, "if you do we'll put you on the foot-ball team and lick Yale.''

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ARMY AND NA YY "WEEKLY. Yes," said MarK:, "but look out for that shoulder." "Can you get an appointment?" asked Harry. "I don't know. I don't know anything about an appointment. I scarcely know what it is, I only know that I'm coming." "And that's all he needs to know," laughed Wicks. "I must get you fellows to give me particulars about the rest. I want--" "Mr. Express Jumper, here's a telegram for you." Mark turned. It was l1is friend, the doctor. "I was just driving up," he added, "so I brought it along. It's from your employer, I guess." Mark opened it hastily, and glanced _at it. Then he handed it to the doctor. "Mark Mallory, Highland Falls, N. Y.-Return home immediately. Change of plans. Taylor." Mark whistled. "There's an express on the Central due at Garrison's across the river," began the doctor, taking out bis watch. "By George! you've not a moment to lose! 'There's the ferry coming over now." "I'll go," said Mark. "And you fellows write me what I must do to come here.'' "Trust us for that," answered Wicks. "What's your address. Oh, yes, Denham 's Gulch! Good-by.'' "Doctor," began Mark, "I don't know how to thank you for--" "The boat's in the dock," was the laughing reply. "You'll have to swim if you don't hurry. Good-by." "Good-by," said Mark. "Good-by everybody. You'll hear from me again soon." He turned and ran down the road to the ferryboat slip. 'The little boat Highlander was on foe point of starting. There was quite a crowd on for an excursion had come up from the city that day. Mark pushed hs way through them and passed to the bow, gazing about him curiously all the while, for this was the first ferryboat the Westerner had ever seen. A minute or two after he boarded there was a jingle of a bell and a throb, and the boat started. Mark stood by the enigne house and watched the macl1inery. "I believe I could run that myself," he mused. "It's on the same principle as tl1e dummy engine I used to work at the mines. Signals the same, too, I notice.'' The latter remarks were made as two bells came, and the engin eer stepped forward and moved the lever. The boat began to slow a little, and Mark heard shouts from the bow. He ran forward. One the big Albany steamers crowded with people was sweeping majestically up the river. The ferry had slowed to let her pass. Presently there came one be11 and full speed again. Mark wandered back to the stern, and gazed upon the fast re ceding shore. He could see the Academy buildings 11igh upon the bluff nestling in the green of the foliage. It made a pretty picture, and Mark for a moment felt homesick as he realized how fast it was going from him. Then he clenched h;s fist. "I'll come back there some day or bust!" he muttered aloud. Our hero took just one more glance at the distant shore and then turned and went forward. "I want to see how they land this big clumsy boat," he thought to himself.

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.ARMY .A.1 D N .A VY WEEKLY 15 They were near the shore then; the dock was right before them, with a number of people ready to board. Two bells! "That means stop the machinery," mused Mark, and then be started in surprise. "Why in thunder don't the machinery stop?" It didn't stop. The boat plunged on full speed ahead. Three bells I "That meant back," exclaimed Mark And still the boat sped on. Three bells again "Something's the matter!" cried a man. A perfect storm of signals from the jangling bell And still no response The passengers gazed at one another with scared white faces, the boat was nearly in the dock, and a frightful crash was imminent. The captain had appeared in t!-ie window of the pilot house above "Stop t!Je boat!" he cried. There was a panic in an instant; and Mark, quick as thought turned and dashed to the engine room. With a bound he was at the engineer's side. The man sat iu his chair erect, motionless. J "Quick, man!" shouted Mark. "Stop the boat!" The engineer never moved. Trembling with haste, Mark pushed him roughly, and he tumbled in a heap to the floor. He had been stricken with apoplexy. A babel of confusion arose from outside; shrieks and cnes. Mark sprang to the lever and flung it back. And then in an agony of suspense he stood and waited. The boat shivered from stem to stern with the sudden reversal; yet he could feel that it was still sweeping on, in spite of the paddle wheel;;. Would it stop in time? The next moment came a gentle bump; and our hero leaned against the wall, trembling with a nervous reaction. "We' re safe he gasped. A figure appeared in the doorway. It was the captai n of the boat; he took one glance at the motionless white face of the heap upon the floor, and one glance at the brave lad who "' : od by the lever. Then he rushed up to Mark and seized him by the hand. "My boy," be cried, and stopped. He could think of no more to ::;ay. But Mark looked into his eyes and saw there what he meant. A crowd of excited people surged .into the doorway, men and women, still pale with fright, and all talking and shouting. To poor Mark, who dreaded the ordeal, it seemed as if they all made for him. ,Mark turned i1elplessly to the captain. "Won't you please show me to the train?" he asked. But he only got more thanks there, and at last he turned and fled. A moment or two later Mark was seated on the river side of one of the coac11es. His spirits had gone up a remarkable number of degrees in the past twenty minutes, and he glanced across at the buildings crowning the heights at West Point with a feeling that it was not the last view be wa,s destined to take of them. They say that a,11 things come to him who waits-and works," be murmured as the wheels began to revolve. "I'll wait and I'll work, and I will return here a cadet!'' In the next number (2) of the Army and Navy Weekly will be found "Mark Mallory's Heroism; or, First Steps Toward a Commission,'' by Lieutenant Frederick Garrison, U S. A.

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Clifford f araday's Ambition. 11 TllLE OF 11 NAVAL SHAM BATTLE. CHAPTER I. THE HAND UNDER THE BRUSH. "Shag, there's something up!" Crack Crack! Boom Br-r-r-r Crack! "I tell you there's something going on over there. Whew! did you hear that? It sounded like the explosion of ten thousand fire crackers at once A long stretch of
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ARMY A N D NAVY WEEKLY. 17 panies of men and boys in naval costumes. They were charging up and down in what seemed to be actual battle array. Near the edge of the woods a short distance from the unseen watcher was au improvised fort constructed of timbers, sand' and earth. Behind it he caught occasional glimpses of marines evi d ently engaged in a desperate defense of their stronghold. The smoke of conflict was heavy in the air, and the infernal din created by the rapid discharge of hundreds of muskets and larger pieces of ordnance echoed and reverberated among the trees. Out in the offing were five massive white cruisers riding at anchor. A number of launches and cutters moored a cable's length from the surf told the story. It was a sham battle being fought by detachments from the North Ailantic Naval Squadron. Clifford Faraday, the lad hidden in the brush, did not recognize this fact at once. His knowledge of naval affairs was not very extensive, and to him the conflict was real. This belief was strengthened by the fact that he could see, plainly before his eyes, men dropping right and left. They were snatched up, wounded and apparently bleeding, and carried to the rear of the line where surgeons and attendants min-istered to them. Some, however, were left where they had fallen, 1 and as they did not stir or move, Clif thought they were dead, and a great pity filled his kindly heart. He remained rooted to the spot where he had first caught sight of the thrilling scene. He saw the Jong lines of sailors sweep to ward the besieged fort. He saw the gallant marines beat back the invaders. He clasped his hands and watched with eager eyes the furious conflict raging upon the parapet of the fortification. Ther
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' 1 8 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. Clif found himself cheering and swinging his hat behind the bushes, but the sound was lost in the storm of hurrahs from the men on the b'each. They were doing honor to the gallant com panies of naval cadets that had stormed and held the parapet of the improvised fort. Suddenly a deep, sullen report echoed across the water from flagship of the squadron. The hidden watcher looked out and saw the puff of white smoke drifting from the forward port gun on the beautiful white cruiser. He thought it was a signal to recommence the :fighting, and he eagerly watched the two companie.s of cadets. Comman ds were passed from officer to officer, the battalion formed in line with service guns to left and right, then suddenly the line broke up and a start was made for the small boats. Now for the first time, Clif noticed that the sunlight had gone out of the sky. To the northward a heavy bank of clouds darkened the air, and it was plainly evident that a storm was brewing. The battalion was hurriedly embarking. The machine guns were placed in the bows of the launches, the sailors, marin_ es and cadets scrambled in after them, then the flotilla swept out toward the cruisers. As they swung alongside the lower booms, Clif left his hiding place and walked to the edge of the surf. A scurry of rain beat upon his face, but he shook himself like a great dog and placidly watched the squadron steam away toward the open sea. As the last cruiser fell into line the lad turned away with a sigh. "Gorry how I would like to be one of those cadets," he said, wistfully. ''They must have jolly times. And how gallant and brave they are! Shag, I guess it's beyond us, eh? We've got to go back to Hartford and do other things for our living. we'd better be moving by the same token. That gale will break in a pair r of se,onds. '' Clif glanced over the battlefield as he moved back t.oward the woods. He saw a number of empty shells, and odds and ends left from the fight. Something prompted him to visit the fort. He climbed over the shattered parapet and descended into the interior. The four lengths of earthworks formed a square about forty feet each way. Upon the sandy floor were ltttle heaps of earth and brush and tree logs. Clif picked up a broken cutlass handle as a memento of the occa sion and started to leave the place. Suddenly bis eye caught the glimmer of a bright button under the edge of a mass of brush and debris in one corner of the enclosure. "Some one's left a cap or s9mething," he murmured. "I guess I'll take that also." He reached dowtJ and dragged away a branch, then he started backward with a cry. There was a human hand protruding from the pile of brush! CHAPTER II. NAVAL CADE'!' ARCHIE BLAND. A doleful howl came from Shag, and the dog began to frantically paw at the mass of debris. Clif quickly recovered his courage. "Down, sir, down!" he commanded. "Get back there, Shag!" Forcing the whimpering dog away, he fell upon the pile and speedily exposed to view a body. It was that of a young naval ca-

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.. ARMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. 19 det. The boy's face was pale, and blooil oozed from a cut upon the side of the head. His left arm hung so awkardly that Clif saw at once that it was broken. "He's been wounded and left here by mistake. But he is still living, thank God! We must get him out of this and to a place where he'll get the attention of a doctor." Tenderly placing his rolled-up coat under the cadet's head; Clif ran to the edge of the surf. Filling his cap with water, he started back toward the fort. A sudden gust of wind swept across the beach and almost knocked him prostrate. The sea was rising. A low growling noise came from the surf, as it sullenly rolled against the sandy barrier of the beach. These were signs not to be mistaken. Even to Clif's inexperienced eyes they portended a violent storm. Shaking his bead ominously, he hastened to the fort. His patient was. still insen sible, but a liberal application of the water brought him round be fore many minutes elapsed. He opened his eyes and gazed wonderingly at Clif and Shag. He started to rise, but the former gently restrained him. "Wait a bit until you .feel better," he said kindly. "Where am I"? What is the-the matter?" "I guess you got hurt during the battle. I found you here cov ered up with branches and dirt." "I i:emember," replied the cadet quickly. "I was charging over the earthworks with the company and something struck me on the head. Then I didn't know anything more. What a funny adventure. The fellows will laugh at me." ''I guess they woul
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20 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. Bland, and I'm a cadet at the Annapolis Naval Academy. Our class r was ordered to join with the North Atlantic Squadron in a sham battle here.'' "Gorry it was some time before I kn. ew it was only sham fight ing. I thought you fellows were in dead earnest." "I confess it seemed like it when we got to going. That is how.I received this injury. Whew! when we swept up to the fort those marines didn't do a thing but whack us with the butts of their guns. I can just remember a big corporal making for me with his rifle, then I saw stars and thunder and lightning." "You must have be::!n knocked under at the corner there and buried beneath the shattered parapet." "That is how it happened, I guess, Clifford. Fancy them leav ing me behind. There'll be great larks when they fail to find me at quarters. They'll think I have fallen overboard." "What will they do then?" asked Clif, putting the finishing touches upon the bandage. "Muster me out," was the careless reply. "Jupiter! I wish we were in Noank. We'll have a tough time of it reaching the mainland in this weather. Hadn't we better wait until it blows over?" "That may mean a matter of three or four days," replied Clif, gravely. "Old Pete, a fisherman in Noank, told me this morning that we would have a lasting storm before the day was out. He advised me to return before noon as the gale would be a fierce one. We must risk it now while the sea is not so high." "\Vhere is your boat?" "On the other side of the island. It is more sheltered there. Come; we will em bark." With Shag frisking before them tl1ey set out for the landward side of the island. As they left the fort the over. cast sky darkened, and the rain began to fall heavily. "The fleet will get the full benefit of this," observed Clif, catch ing his companon by the sound arm and leading him through the brush. He had selected a small cove protected from the east by a rocky tongu e or bar. Inside, the water was comparatively smooth, but as he placed his .sturdy shoulder to the bow and shoved the boat off, a wave curled past the entrance, falling with a resounding crash upon the outer beach. Archie rendered what service he could, but his injured arm pre vented him doing very much. "We will row out and spread the sail after we get clear of the land," explained the Hartford boy. "Steady! let me help you in. That's it. Now sit in the stern and see if you can use the tiller." Shag crouched in the bow and showed his white teeth at the seas as they lapped over the cutwater. The boat was clinker built and had a shapely model, but it was entirely too small and frail for such a trip. Clif bent to the oars and sent the craft spinning. Archie, whose year at Annapolis had made him experienced in handling a tiller, guided the boat squarely down the cove. "We are almost in open water," he called out. "Watch your oars, Clifford. That's it. Now another spurt and we'll be clear of the point." Clif made the required spurt with all the force of his arms. The boat shot out of the co\'e straight into the curling maw of an angry

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ARMY AND X A VY WEEKLY. 21 sea. There was a roaring of green waters, a stupendous tossing of white spume, and then with a crash the clinker-built craft with its helpless contents was thrown against the outer beach! CHAPTER III. RUN DOWN. The shock of contact sent Clif head over heels into the sand. He lay there stunned for a moment, then the spray of the surf beat ing upon his face revived him, and he scram bled to his feet. His first thought was for the lad he had discovered so opportunely under the debris in the little fort. He was not on the beach, but as Clif gave an eager glance to seaward he espied both Archie and / Shag struggling in the surf. The dog was holding the cadet by the collar and endeavoring to drag him to a place of safety. An encouraging cry came from Clif's lips and he hastened to the rescue. Twice he was forced back, but he returned to the attack a third time, and at last succeeded in hauling both from the very grasp of the waves. It was not a moment too soon, as Archie was almost unconscious from pain. Leaving him stretched out upon the sand, Clif turned his attention to the boat. He found it bottom up and lodged in a crevice between two rocks. A hasty ex<1mination revealed the welcome fact that the hull was uninjured. The little mast had been snapped off close to the foot, however; and the sail was torn. Calling all his strength into play Clif dragged the craft from the rocks and righted it. He worked feverishly, and finally succeeded in restepping the mast. To do this he was compelled to extricate the broken end from the hole in the bottom of the boat, and reshape the butt of the mast with his knife. While he was laboring away he felt a touch upon his shoulder. Looking up he saw Archie Bland. The cadet'::; face was pale and his lips compressed, but he seemed cheery enough. "We're not gone up yet, Clifford," he said. "No, but it was a close call." "I can't ask you to risk your life for the sake of saving my arm," protested the cadet earnestly. "I think we would better stay here and take chances.'' "No. Come; help me launch her again." "What about your dog? Going to take him along?" Clif glanced at the animal, and shook his head. "I don't like to leave him," he replied, "but he will be very much in the way. I guess he'd better stay on the island to-day. Even if something happens to us, he'll be picked up by a fisherman within forty-eight hours. Come:" Shag watched the boys with his great brown eyes as if he had understood every '''ord. Presently he attempted to crawl into the boat, but Clif gently pushed him back. "No, Shag, you must stay here. Get under cover and bide your time, that's a good doggy." Silently the two lads waited until a temporary lull caused the onward impulse of the waves to slacken, then the craft was forced into the surf. Archie scrambled over the side and seized the tiller. Clif waded up to his waist, gave one last shove, then he too sprang on board.

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22 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. As he did so the boat was seized and carried away from the beach by the current. "It's a good start," cried Clif as he worked the oars. "An other hundred yards and we can hoist sail.'' The hundred yards were made, then, while Archie kept the tiller steady, he set foe remnants of the canvas and close reefed it. The spread of sail was just enongh to permit steerage-way, but the long surging heave of the seas sent the light boat spinning. It sheered through the waves like an arrow, making one long, floating slide after another with a short pause in the drop of the stern to the yawn of water, and then a lightning-like rush forward as the hillocks of foam caught her. The motion was exhillirating, but the two lads were too wrapped up in their own peril, and the workings of the boat, to appreciate it. Clif tended the sheet while Archie devoted himself to the tiller. It required nice steering, but the cadet was equal to it notwithstanding his injured arm. The sparkle and glow of the day had died out entirely. The sky was completely overcast, and a heavy bank of mist could be seen .rolling in from the ocean. ''I hope we make land before that catches us,'' shouted Cl if above the deep rear of the seas. "This is a regular channel, you know, and some lumbering vessel might run us down." "I guess there's little danger of that," replied Archie. "Cap tains will give this part of the coast a wide berth in this weather. How about a landing place? Is Noank sheltered?" "Yes. We will find comparatively smooth water after passing the Point.'' Presently the wall of fog reached them and the distant Connecticut shore was blotted out as if by some Titians' hand. As the boat plunged from wave to hollow and to wave again the mist thickened until at last tht: boys found themselves completely enveloped in the damp, clinging chilly vapor. "I wonder if I'm steering in the right direction?:' called out Archie, after a while. "It is impossible to tell," replied Clif, gravely. "Each surge of the sea may throw us off, you know. We must trust to Providence." He trimmed the sail anew, then crept forward and tried to pierce the fog with his keen eyes. Impossible task! "Won't you come aft again?" asked Archie presently. "I de clare I feel as if we were in a watery coffin. Come aft, and let's talk.'' Clif was not adverse to obeying his companion's request. It was lonely out there in the heart of the mist. As long as the shore was visible there was some se11se of human neighborliness. As he turned to crawl toward the stern-sheets he caught a rattling sound from off the starboard bow. It was a peculiar creaking uoise as of a rope passing through a complaining pulley. Archie heard it also. The sound was more familiar to him than it was to Clif. "There's a vessel over there," he cried excitedly. Before Clif could reply-before he had hardly grasped the full meaning of his companion's words-something huge and black and towering rose out of the fog and crashed squarely into the small boat.

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ARMY AND .NA VY WEEKLY. 23 CHAPTER IV. SAVING THE SCHOONER. In times of dire peril e\"en the bravest will yield to the call of self1. preservation. The shock of sudden danger permits of only one emotion-that of securing your own life. The crash and splintering sound of wood as the huge bulk thundered into the clinker boat; the wild surge of the waves, and the downward plunge of the doomed craft as it was ground beneath the forefoot of the unknown hull, caused Clif to forget everything save that he was in terrible peril. He instinctively leaped _upward and made a clutch for a rusty iron cable within a yard of his head. His fingers closed over it and he scrambled, and choking, to. the railing of a forecastle. Once in comparative safety he thought of his companion. Leaning far over be looked downward with straining eyes, and shouted: "Archie! Archie!" Something-was it an answering' cry?-came back to him from directly under the heel of the bowsprit. Clif did not wait for a repetition of the sound, but flung himself out upon the short stumpy cathead which projects from the side of the bow. Holding on with all the power of his muscles he again looked downward and caught sight of the cadet. Archie was clinging to the bobstays, and, as Clif espie.d him, the massive square bow surged down, down into a smothering wave, carrying the unfortunate cadet under the flying spume and spray. When the hull lifted again-which it did sluggishly-Clif low ered himself hand tinder hand and grasped Archie by the collar of his jacket. "Heart up, old fellow,,, he called out. "See if you can't help a little, and we'll make the forecastle all right.,, "I can-can only use my right hand,,, gasped Archie in reply. "It,s impossible. Let me go, Clifford. Save yourse1f.,, "Not much. Up with you now. That's it; a little higher and -hurrah !11 Sitting a-straddle of the bowsprit and firmly bracing his feet against the inner ends of the bubstay, the brave lad finally succeeded in dragging his companion to the forecastle deck. Once in safety both fell full length in the bow. They were completely exhausted and it was several minutes before either could arouse himself. The onward plunging of the vessel, and the frightful pitching, slanting, heaving of the deck brought them to their feet again. "We are adrift on an abandoned schooner, I think,,, hoarsely cried Clif, pointing aft. A thinning of the fog enabled them to see as far as the break of the after deck. Not a soul was visible in the whole length and breadth of the fabric. "She's a wreck,,, replied Archie. "The mainmast is gone and the forward deck house has been swept away. Heavens! what a ruin!" "We are no better off on board than we were in the boat. She acts as if she was sinking. 1 Archie glanced over the side. "I hardly think so,,, he replied. "I guess the schooner is water-logged. See how sluggishly she takes the seas." As if to prove the truth of his words the bow plunged into a

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24 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. great foaming sea and shipped a monster wave over the starboard bulwark. The torrent of water almost swept the boys from their feet. They scurried aft as quickly as possible and sought refuge upon the after cabin. There they stood for a moment trying to read a word of hope in the.. scene spread out before them. "I guess there can be only one end tothis,"said Archie gloomily. "The fog is lifting," hastily interrupted Clif. "Look! .there's the coast almost dead ahead of us. We are drifting upon it." A sudden change of wind had torn away the veil of mist, revealing clear and distinct some three miles in advance of the schooner a dark, sullen stretch of highland. Deeper shadows here and there indicated the presence of coves and little harbors. The resistless force of the wind and waves was carrying the schooner directly toward a jutting point of land which formed one side of an indentation in the coast line. The po .int was edged with outlying reefs, and the danger of striking'tlpon one of them was imminent. "If we could only steer her in past those rocks we mighf find a sandy beach to strike against," said Archie. "Let's try to get steer age way on her and see what we can do." His disabled arm prevented him accomplishing much, but under his direction Clif succeeded in hoisting the staysail a dozen feet. Then both boys hurried to the wheel. The deep-lying hull obeyed the :fUdder so sullenly that they despaired. of accomplishing their purpose. Yard by yard the schooner crept toward the reefs. song of the breakers sounded loud and threatening. surged until at last barely a ship's length intervened and destruction. The warning Ofl, on they between them And then! and then, the bow slowly paid off until the shattered bowsprit pointed into the little bay, at the other end of which was plainly visible a broad and sloping beach. Clif and Archie cried aloud for very joy. ''Hurrah! we'll save the old craft and ourselves too,'' added the former. "Why can't we drop the anchor when we get inside?" "Great idea," promptly replied the cadet. "It ma,y be ready for letting go. I'll hold the wheel while you run forward and see. Get a bolt and a block or something and knock the pin from the shackle. But don't do it until I give the word." Clif waited until the schooner was well within the shelter of the point, then he has:;ened to the forecastle. He found the n1assive anchor hanging over the port bow. Securing a capstan bar he stood prepared to strike the catch. By that time the water logged craft was almost midway between the entrance to the little bay a1,1d the beach. A shrill whistle came from Archie, faintly audible above the shriek of the gale. It was the signal to let go. Clif brought his bar down upon the iron catch holding the anchor in place, and the heavy mass dropped with a sullen splash into the water. The chain rasped gratingly against 'the side and keel, the schooner lurched forward for one breathless minute, then her way slackened, and she slowly, but surely swung to her anchor. Clif was so thrilled with joy and relief that he could not even find voice to cheer. Archie left the wheel and hurried forward. When they met the two lads sat npon a capsized scuttle-butt and al most hugged each other.

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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 25 "The beat of this voyage can't be found," chuckled the cadet. "It will go down iu history as the most novel cruise ever heard of." "We are lucky to escape so easily. Our lives were not worth two cents ten minutes ago." "But they are worth considerably more than that now. Whoop! I could dance for very-ouch '' In his gay spirit Archie sprnng to his feet. ment twitched his broken arm and he groaned minded both lads of the strong reason for their mainland. Tbe sudden movewith pain. It rehaste to gain the "That arm must be seen to as soon as possible," remarked Clif. "I wonder where we are." He glanced around the little bay, but saw nothing indicatiug the proximity of a village or even a solitary farm. The bay was enclosed on three sides by highlands which rose above the schooner's masthead. "I am afraid we must wait until some life-saving patrol happens along; or until we can construct some kind of a raft. PerhapsGorry I know what I'll do." "What?" asked Archie with deep interest. "I'll wait until the bay gets smooth and swim ashore." "You are a hero of the first water, Clifford Faraday," exclaimed Archie gratefully. "You have saved my life more than once to-day, and I will never forget it." "Don't let it worry you, old fellow. The chance happened to come my way, and I took it. Let's lpok over our prize and see what she amounts to." CHAPTER V. A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. ''There is one thing certain,'' S\id tl}e cadet, as he followed Clif aft; "this schooner would' have been a total loss if you hadn't picked her up." "What about you?" laughed the Hartford lad. "Oh, I'm not in it. Both the schooner and myself owe our present existence to you. This affair ought to be a big feather in your cap. Your name and perhaps your picture will be in all the papers, and you will be known as the wonderful hero who saved a treasure-laden ship by himself." "Treasure-laden?" "Perhaps. Some cargoes are as valuable as treasure, you know. Just look down the main hatch here. It's plum full of boxes and bales. They are a trifle damp, but that doesn't spoil them, I guess. I wouldn't be surprised if this craft and contents was worth ten thousand dollars.'' "If I ov.ned it I'd give it all for one thing." "What in heaven's name is that." "If I could become a cadet at the Annapolis Naval Academy." Archie turned and stared at his companion's face for a moment, then he blurted : "You are fooling." "No I am not. I mean it. I'd give anything if I could be a cadet like you." "Then why don't you get an appointment?" replied Archie, eyeing his companion's intelligent face and sturdy figure. "You

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26 ARMY NAVY WEEKLY. .. certainly know enough, and I'm sure you would pa?s the physical examination." "Appointments are not to be had for the asking, I understand. I've heard it takes lots of political influence to get one." the idea most outsiders have," replied Archie warmly. "It is only true in regard to the President's personal appointments. He has ten at large, you know. It takes a strong 'pull' to get one from him, I guess. But nowadays the others are generally settled l>y competitiye examination." "We had one in Hartford a year ago, and I think there is to be another this year. The Congressman of the district in which I live gives every boy, a chance." ."He's a sensible man. Some Congressmen give out the appointments as favors to their political friends. I know a case where a member of Congress appointed his two sons, one to Annapolis and the other to West Point. He made each the alternate of the other, so they were sure of scmething. '' Archie laughed as if the very idea was funny. "What's an alternate?" asked Clif, greatly interested. "When a candidate is selected for appointment another boy in the same district is named to take his place in case he fails to pass the entrance examination at the Academy. He is called the alternate.'' "Is the examination verv difficult?" "It is and it isn .'t. It's.hard for a dunce who has graduated from the common schools. "I have had one year at high school. through if--" and easy for any one Did you graduate?'' I would have gone Clif hesitated and glanced out across the bay. Then he added softly: "Father died and left mother in my care. We were poor and I went to work so that we could keep our little home. I am employed in a newspaper office, butI am now on my vacation. I came down here, or rather to Noank with mother to spend it with an aunt."' "And you support your mother and a whole house yourself?" "I try to," smiled Cl if. eyed the speaker with was evidently sincere admiration. He seemed io1ightly ashamed also. "I am afraid I can't say that," he murmured. "I live in Chicago, and my father owns a large packing business. I've done nothing all my life but spend money. I d!dn 't even get in the academy by competitive examination. Father had pull enough to persuade our Congressman to appoint me.'' "But you knew enough to pass the examination." Archie laughed. "Yes, after three tutors had a whack at me. But say, Clifford, I am bound to have you a cadet at the Academy. You must try at the next compet. in your district. Now promise me that you will." "What is the use?" asked Clif with a sigh. "Why, I am sure you will pass." "Perhaps." "Well-" began Archie, then he suddenly grasped the meaning of his companion's hesifancy. He flushed, and glanced awkwardly about the deck. The next second his sound arm was encircling Clif's shoulders, and he exclaimed impulsively:

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ARMY AND NAYY WEEKLY. 27 "I understand, old fellow. You are thinking about the cost of entrance. It's pretty high, I know. I had to pay one hundred and ninety-six dollars when I entered. But say, I wouldn't let that prevent me if I were you. We can fix it all right. You saved my life twice to-dav, and I would be very ungrateful if--" "I know what you are going to say," hastily interrupted Clif, "and I am thankful to you, but I can't accept the offer. If I" ever enter the Annapolis Naval Academy it will be on money I have earned myself. And I must have enough for mother's use also." "Please don't refuse my aid," pleadetj Archie. "Why, I can spare enough from my pocket money for that purpose. .And I know that father will be so grateful when he hears how you saved my life that he will do anything for your mother. Wait until I am through, Clifford. Just think what a career it will mean for you if you enter the Academy. Why, a naval officer is simply out of sight. He's looked upon as belonging to the highest society, and he has a chance to make himself famous in more ways than one. And the Academy itself! Gee! you should see what a great place we have. It's fine. The life there is pleasant, and we have no of fun." He paused for breath. Clif smiled, but shook his head. "You know I appreciate your offer, old fellow,'' he said sin cerely. "But I can't accept. I am determined to enter the academy, but I'll do it on money earned by myself. You will see me there before two years have passed, rest assured of that. Now let me fix that bandage again. It is slipping down." While he was attending to Archie's arm that youth renewed his pleading. Clif remained firm, but he showed an eager desire to talk about the Academy. The morning passed slowly. Shortly after t.welve, while the boys were rummaging in the dismantled galley for something to eat, they heard a faint shout. Running to the forecastle they glanced toward shore and saw a man clad in oilskins and a southwester standing near the edge of the water. He waved his hancl and shouted again. "It's a beach patrol from some life-saving station," cried Archie. "Hurrah! he'll get us off now. We must hoist a distress signal.'' By his direction Clif attached a piece of bunting to the forward signal halliards and hoisted it midway to the truck. It proved to be a Dutch e.nsign, but it answered the purpose. The man ashore waved his southwester, then he disappe ared behind an elevation. He was gone fully an hour, but when he came into view again he was accompanied by four other men. They dragged a yawl from within a little inlet and embarked. The boys watched their movements with eager interest. The sea had subsided considerably, but the sky still remained lowering and overcast. "The storm ain't over yet," remarked Archie sagely. "This is the tail of a squall, and it'll be followed by a severe gale." "We're all right anyway. We'll be ashore in twenty minutes." They leaned over the forecastle rail and watched the yawl as it was forced through the water. The patrol was steering with a spare oar. He stood up in the stern sheets and eyed the schooner curiously as he approached. Suddenly-when the yawl was within a hundred yards of the schooner-the lads saw him drop his oar and almost fall from the stern. He lifted up both hands and bellowed hoarsely:

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28 ARMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. "Row ashore, mates! row ashore as quick as you can. That's the Mary E. Jackson!" To the profound surprise of Clif and Archie the oarsmen whirled the boat about and hustled her away from the schooner. "Hi there!" shouted Clif in "Hi, there! What's the matt.er with you!?" "Git off that craft if you value your lives," roared the beach patrol. "It's the Mary E. Jackson, and she's a dynamite ship!" CHAPTER VI. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS SALVAGE. "A dynamite ship?" echoed Clif, staggering back from the rail. "Heavens and earth!" "A dynamite shiJ?!" chattered Archie, casting a frightened glance toward the half-open hatch. "Let's get out-get out of her." Clif's face was deadly pale, but he recovered his c;:omposure in a remarkably brief space of time. Leaning far over the rail, he waved his hand and shouted to the occupants of the yawl: "Come back here and take us off, will you. What are yon afraid of now? Do yon intend to leave us on board, confound you!" The beach patrol and his mates ceased rowing and consulted together for a moment, then the bow of the yawl was turned toward tlie schooner once more. "We'll drop astern of you, was shouted to the boys. "Jump overboard and we'll pick yon up." ''Can't do it,'' replied Cliff, making a speaking trumpet of his hands. "My companion has a broken arm. Come alongside." It was plainly evident the occupants of the yawl were extremely reluctant to comply with the request. They consulted again, and wagged their heads as if deciding to refuse . "We must not be left aboard this hulk," said Clif to the cadet. "I should rather say not. Gee whiskers! fancy having tons and tons of dynamite under your feet. If it should explode we'd be scattered over the whole State." "Hi, there!" shouted Clif. "Don't leave us aboard! My com panion has broken his arm and it must be set at once." "And we want to get off the confounded schooner, too," added Archie. "I'll give yon a hundred dollars each if yon '11 take us ashore.'' "We don't want your mo ney, lad," finally replied the patrol. "We'll get you off the schooner if you will be quick about it." The yawl was brought alongside the gangway, and it v/as almost comical to see how careful the oarsmen were to avoid bumping against the side. Archie was assisted into the boat, then after Clif had leaped into the how a start was made for shore. At the request of the patrol Cliff related their adventures, the men listening in open-mouthed wonder. "You have had the escape of your lives, young fellers," said one with a shiver. "I've hearn tell of many remarkable adventures, but yours beat all. Why, thet schooner is loaded with five hundred tons of dynamite." "It would have been the same if it had only contained ten," replied Clif, coolly. "If we had struck the reefs out there the extra tons would not have been eended."

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ARMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. 29 "How did you know the Mary E. Jackson was loaded with dynamite?'' ai;ked Archie. "We got word from Boston early this morning," replied the patrol, glancing back at the vessel. "She was struck by a squall at sea, and the crew abandoned her." "I don't blame them," observed Clif. The bay in which the schooner had ended her voyage was not more than ten miles from Noank, and the boys were taken there by train. After their arrival at Cliff's temporary home Archie's arm was set by a surgeon, and the lad sent to bed. It was not long before the story of the wonderful adventures of the two boys became nois ed about the village. Archie's parents an9 the authorities at the Naval Academy were notified of the cadet's mishap. A return from the former requested the lad to travel home as soon as possible, but he begged a week's delay. "I'm not going to leave you so soon as all that," he said to Clif. "Yon must obey your father:" "I will if you']] consent to let me help you enter the Academy," replied Archie cunningly. Clif smiled and shook his head. As soon as the gale subsided Clif and a fisherman visiterl the island and rescued Shag. The dog was none the worse for his ex perience, but he was overjoyed to see Clif again. A tug called at the little bay from Boston and towed the schooner back to that port. Three days later Archie went home. He insisted that Clif should accompany him as far as New York, and when he bade him good-by he added: "For the last time, are you going to let me help you in tt!at matter of the Academy, old fellow?" "For the last time I must refuse," smiled Clif. HTJien I'll do it in a way you won't discover." "How do you mean?" "Never mind," replied Archie mysteriously. "I'll bet you anything you want that you will be the next representative to Annapo-lis from your district.'' "I won't bet, but I'm afraid you are mistaken." "All right. Just you wait and see. As we say at the Academy there are more ways to down a plebe than by hitting him with an axe. Remember what I say. I'll see you with an anchor on your cap before the year is out. Good-by." When Clif went back to Noank he missed Archie's companionship more than he had expected. The light-hearted cadet had be come his warm personal friend_ during their brief acquaintance. "He's a splendid fellow, ai\d I'm glad I met him," he told his mother. "I would give a great deal to know what he meant by saying that he will see me in the Academy before the end of the year." "You would like to become a naval cadet, my son," murmured Mrs. Faraday. "I see that very plainly."' "It is my one ambition now, mother," replied the lad wist fully. "Some day-when I have provided for you-I'll satisfy it. That is if--" He was interrupted by a knock at the door. A boy employed

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30 ARMY AND NA VY WEEKL1'.. at the railway station entered with a message addressed to Clifford Faraday . "It's some word from Archie, I suppose," said Clif, tearing open the envelope. He read the words, then his face paled and reddened again. "It-it can't be true," he gasped. "Oh, mother, just listen." In a faltering voice-a voice faltering with excess of joy-he read: "Boston, July 3, 189-. "Clifford Faraday, Noank, Conn.: "You will oblige the undersigned by visiting their office as soon as convenient. Your share of the salvage on the schooner Mary E. Jackson has been adjudged at five thousand dollars. That amount will be paid you on demand. "Jackson & Floyd, Owners." "Five thousand dollars?" echoed the widow in a dazed manner. "You are to be paid five thousand dollars? Clifford, it's a cruel joke.'' "No mother," cried Clif, dancing about the room. "It is true, I know it is. That reporter said something about salvage, but I didn't think anything about it then. Hurrah! it is the greatest piece of good fortune we've ever met. It means that we can pay the debt on the house, and you will be able to get lots of things. You know you wanted a warm dress for the winter and--" "Always thinking of my comfort," interrupted Mrs. Faraday, smiling through her tears. "What about you, son? Won't it mean something to you? You can now satisfy the ambition you were just spe:iking about and--" "Go to the Naval Academy," cried Clif, giving her a hug. "I can do it at last," he hesitated, then added gravely, "that 1s, if I can win the appointment at the next competitive examination.,, "You can do it, I am sure." "I don't know, mother. There will be lots of fellows after the prize . I will have pleuty of antagonists. I heard before we left Hartford that Judson Greene intends to compete.'' ''That mean boy? Surely not.'' "He's a scamp, but his father is rich and he has any amount 0f influence. Judson boasts that he can get anything he wants, but he'll have to fight me pretty hard in this case." "Can't Archie help you?" asked Mrs. Faraday. "He--" "Gorry I'll wager anything I owe thii:> to Archie Bland," interrupted Clif. "What do you mean, son?" "This salvage money. He has evidently used his father's influence to cause the owners of the Mary-E. Jac kson to award me the money. Bless his old heart! He was bound to see me in possession of enough funds anyway." "You deserve it," said his mother, softly, "and I sincerely hope and pray you will succeed in entering the Naval Academy." "I'll do it if I have to study night and day, and compete with a hundred fellows like Judson Greene." And his tone indicated that he meant every word of it. The next number (2) of the Army and Navy Weekly will con. tain "Winning a Naval Appointment; or, Clif Faraday's Victory," by Ensign Clarke Fitch, U. S. N. \

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SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PUBLISHED IN "GOOD NEWS." Robert Allen and Tom Dean, two chums Jiving a few i;niles outside of Providence, R. I., obtain the consent or their parents to go to sea, and ship as boys before the mast on board the 1ull-r1gger Ganges, bQund for Canton, Cbma. After several weeks at se'a, during which the boys experience a nu?"ber of thrilling adventures, the Cape de Verde Islands are sighted. While passing the islands a large cask le se e n on the surface of the water. It 1s picked up and opened, and to the amazement of all on board is found to cpntam a negro, evlde!Jtly a Moor. He by signs that he had been the captain or a Moorish and that Ins crew had m.utmied and set him. adrift m. the cask with the intention of turning the brig Into a pirate. Several dayd later an Amerwan vessel flyrng a s11.mal or cllstrese 1s encountered. Her captain reported that be had been attacked by a pirate who had strlpJ.>ed Ins craft of everything valuable. The Ganges ultimately .sights a w111oh 1s recogmzed by tile Moor as Ins vessel. After a severe naval battle, during which the Moor 1s killed, the pirate 1s snnk. The Ganires finally reaches the Tndrnn Oce a n, and the anchor Is dropped oft Port Louis, in the Isle of France. While Bob and Tom are ashore they are "pressed" by a gang of English men-or-war's men, and are carried on board the British frigate Solway, which shortly after leaves port with a. convoy ot merchant vessels. CHAPTER X. THE TABLES TURNED. ml"TER a few days the boys found much to console them in their new situation. The duties were not s0vere, and they hourly learned something of naval life. Tbe Brit ish tars they found to be careless, jolly fellows, like those on board the Granges although somewhat less intelligent, and more given to pugnacity toward each other. Here every man had his allotted place-bis station in working ship. and bis position among the company of a particu lar gun. Among the marines our heroes saw the men to whom they owed their present condition. Tom Byrne, the soldier of whom the corporal bad inquired the state of the weather, was a frank. impulsive Irishman. "Yeas give the corporal and Bill Brown, there, a cou ple of murtbering cracks on tbe pate, yeas did!" be said slyly and witb a gratified twinkle of his eyes "For the life of me, I bad to laugb to see it!" "Yes," said Bob Allen. "and we would have whipped the two scoundrels handsomely if th" other four of you bad not interfered I" "Yees wud, yeas wud I sure an' yeas wud I But not a paw did Tom Byrne put on yeas to yer bar-um! I was glad ye give tbe corporal and the otber English man a taste I They didn't get over it yet!" "And 1 hope they never will I" said Tom Dean. "I would take either of the beef-eating John Bulls singly in a fair fight, and stand my chance I" "Isn't tlfat the line boy, nowP I'd bet on ye, lad, or either of yeas I" "I like your countrymen." said Bob Allen. "I've read of Sarsfield and O'Brien. and the battle of Fon teny, where they cut down the Englisb like grass." "Yer .right, yer right, lad I Ye may say it. 'Twas the Irish brigade that turned the fight I 'Tis done, marsball' said O'Brien to Saxe, wbin the orther came; and 'twas done, indade I Success to the green flag, say I, an' bad luck to the beef-aiting villains that wud kape ould Ireland from her right I" The convoy sailed very baa vily, so that the seventy four was obliged all the time to keep under short can vas in order not to leave the merchantmen out of sight In latitude ten south, where the trade wind in the Indian Ocean ceases and the monsoons bflgin, the weather was so calm that the vessels hardly made a mile's progress for several days, and the British cap tain swore because be feared that tbe great periodical breeze which blows half the year from northeast and the other half from southwest would be changed from the latter dire11tion before be could fairly strike it. At length, however, a breeze filled the sails, and the fleet, passing the Straits of Sunda, was soon plowing the China Sea. The boys were already pleasing tbemseves with the hope that in a few days an opportunity might be given them of deserting at Manila, when one forenoon a sail was reported from aloft, an
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\ 32 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. But the Sol way's captain was a rugged British tar, and the fight he made was worthy of Hawke or Duncan. With blood running from bis scuppers, half bis guns dismounted, and bis ship a wreck, be still kept the red cross at bis mizzen and doggedly struggled against certain defeat. Against the ship on bis weather bow be could bring only one twenty-four pounder to bear, and against ber consort on bis quarter, not a single gun; yet "the llleteor flag of England'' be could not yet endure to strike. In the mizzen top, where our youngsters were stationed, every person save tbemsel ves bad been killed. 'fbe bead of the mast was splintered, and the top it self so torn that the foothold was unsubstantial. The boys bar! at first fired their muskets like the others, al ways, however, taking care to aim wide from the enemy; but now, w beu left alone, they laid down their guns and watched the battle. "I thought," said Tom Dean, "a Frenchman was no fighter ou water; but I guess tbe fellows will be enough for us I" "I guess they will, too," said Bob. "If they'll only take us I shall be glad, for then we'll tell them bow it is, and they'll let ns go. It seems to rue that I am almost willing to be killed for the sake of seeing these Englishmen get such a drubbing!" I don't believe,'' said Tom, 'we shall see anything a great while! How the shot whistle! There goes the mizzen stay l But what I'm surprised at is that we don't feel more afraid!" "0," said Bob, "a person isn't much afraid in battle; it is when be thinks of it afterward that it looks dangerous to him. You know bow it was when we fought tbe pirate. Hello! Look out for yourself! Hold on!" A twenty-four pound ball bad struck the mast, and the top swayed with an inclination like the deck of a ship in a storm. Our boys clutched the topmast shrouds, but felt themselves going, and in a few motpents they were in tbe water. The rnizeumast bad gone by the board! The wel'0 both excellent swimmers, and tb<>y struck out for the nearest ship of tbe enemy. As they reached her side a tremendous explosion behind them seeme\i to shake sea and sky. Looking around they saw the whole air ablaze, but nothing of the Sol way! Where she bad been, the water was whirling and foam ing as if a whole magazine of powder bad been discharged beneath it; and then there was a rain of timbers and spars and guns. The British seventy-four bad blown up. Our heroes scrambled up tbe side of the French man, assisted by those on board, and search was then made for such of the Sol way's crew as might have surviv"d tbe explosoin. Ouly seven, however, were found, but to their great s11tisfaction the boys per cai verl one of these to be Tom By rue, the Irishman. "Be jabers, I've bad a ride on a broom, like an owld witch I" he said; "but tbe corporal be didn't come down yet!" 'l'lle French commander, Monsieur Le Brune, who could master a littltJ broken English, questioned the survivors as to the name of their ship, tbe destinatoin of her convoy, and other particularn; and Tom and Bob hastened to tell him their story. "Ab, oui, oui zat ees de vay," be said. "Zese In glese zay take de mans from all sbeeps Vat say you go vid me-be leetle Freuchmaus-serve ze emperor, ze grand Napoleon?" Our boys were not backward in expressing their ad mirntiou of the great emperor; but they explained to Captain Le Brune the difficulties under which an enlistment in the French navy would place them, in view of their attachment to home and country, and he Avidently respected their feelings. A like proposition was marle to the other seven, anrl two of them accepted it; but Tom Byrne and four of bis companio11s chose captivity instead. "No," said Tom, "I'm an Irishman, and an Englishman to me is Satban'sown pisen; but it's not Tom Byrne that'll be goin' back on bis agraymint I enlisbterl be cause it was enlisbt or shtarve, an' sbmAll the love I had for tbim But a man's wor-nrl is his wor-u:i, and I'm a British marane till me time's out!" The French ships were so greatly crippled that tbey made no attempt to overtake the convoy, which bad all the while beer. standing off to the nortb1,.ard. They
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ARMY AND NAVY "\VEEKLY. 33 Bob and Tom went up with tbe tars; for Mr. Olnev told tbem they were old enough to leal'll, and should be able to do something more than ant typhoon had whirled the masts out of ber like reeds and carried to 1lestrnction more t1rnu half of her crbW aud passengers. Never w ere sufl'erers more generously cared for than wPre those dark-eyed Spaniards on board the good Can tou sbip. At length, the latitude of Luzoll beiug "C'ome up with," Captain Tillinghast stood in l\lauila Bay, where the unfortuuate people were put on shore aruong those of their own raing up the river, and a little ofter sm1set dropped anchor before Whampoa. Here the same wonderful pauomma of life went on. Men, women, anr! children &long the shores, and upon the water, were more 11umerous than rats in an old wharf. The boys lay long awake in the forecastle talkillg of what they bad seen, and trying to that New England lay bottom up to them, straight down through the ground. The following day heiug Sunday they bad leisure to look ahout. In the market they saw rats, puppies, and all mamrer of queer ani111als and birds exposed for sale as delicacies for the table, and they saw on every band a squalor, degrartatiou, and immorality of which they bad never dreamed. How di!fereiit were the sights in this Chinese ant bill fron1 anything they had winessed in the beautiful Isle of Fran re, or even at Manila. In fact, tbey were almost ready to accept the summary conclusion of Davy Dom, who, smiling in his calm Dutch way at thE1ir exhibition of mingled amazement and disgust, remarked: "Veil, poys, vat you diuk of dese beobles? Dey vasbn't bigs, uut deyvasbn't borpoises; dey vasbsomedings py demz2lfs. Der human race leaps off sboost pefore it gets to the Chinamans, nut derti vasb no other race pegins, so dey vash nopoty at alll" Captain Tillinghast found that the Ann and Hope bad saild for home before his arrival; but he deposited the thirty tbousai1d dollars in safe keeping 11t the American "hong;" for most uations tradii1g to China have their separate "hon gs" or markets, so that tbere are the American, English, Freucb, and Spanish "hon gs," with perhaps some others. 'fbe Ganges immerliately discharged her cargo, but did not for some tinre begin taking in; and the boys, the period of delay, found various opportunities of going np to Canton. The great city they found to be 111E1rely Whampoa a hundred times multiplied. There they wandered into singular nooks and corneri sometimes passing along streets so narrow as to 111ino one of Burns' description of the "auld brig" or bridge, of the towu of Ayr: "Where twa wheelbarrows tremble when they meet,"

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34 .A.RMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. only that some of the public ways of Canton would hardly arlmit of the passage of one wlleelbarrow. At length the Ganges commenced loading. Bob and Tom were glad to hear the creaking of tbe hoisting gear as the boxes of tea, the bales of silk, and the crates of beautiful pottel'y were taken on boa.rd, for they bad been long enough in Canton River, and had grown impatiflnt for the start homeward. As many Chinese as could be e'Dployed to advantage were set at work about the ship, some on dee)titioned so stupid a creature as the Chinese emperor, away off Pekin would have been useless and even dangerous. The officials bad too much love for their own beads to dream of such impertinence\ and, besides, they were entirely satisfied with tbe regulation as it was A condition of things so remarkable impressed the boys deeply. Every day they went on board the Stir ling Castle to talk sympathetically w ith two or three young lads like themselves. "We maynaeseetheFritb of Forth again!" said one 0 these youthful .Scots. "It a' lies wi' Captain McDugald. Gin he haulds oot, we may tread Scottish yird ance mair ''Na, na, Jock I" said another, "it doesna depen' on Captain McDugald. Gin be baulds oot, we'll ne'er get awa frae here, an' gin he doesna bauld oot, there's ane o' us will ne'er get awa; so it's the deil's ain mess a' aroun' I" Hard as it must have been for him the Scotch captain at last yielded. No one blamed him, for what else could be do? It was decided that lots should be drawn on board tbe Stirliug Castle, and when Bob and Tom beard tbat this was to be done, they felt great ar;xiety for the thre e smooth-faced boys with wliom they had talked of Bruce and Wallace, Bwns and Tannahill. But the lot fell on the oldest sailor of the crew, one who had served with Nelson at tbe Nile, and wbo, wlien a boy, bad stood ou Rodney's deck as 110 bore down on the Count de Grasse. '.l'he brn ve old tar, after taking a solemn farewell of his shipmates, was carried on shore by the Chinese, and\ iu a couple of hours, brought back to the sliip, deaa. Our youngsters, inspired partly by a boyish curiosity, and partly by a much more commendable feeling, were on board the Stirling C astle at the melancholy reception of the corpse. No trace of injury could anywhere be discovered on the body, although the most minute inspection was made by Captain McDugald and bis men, and the manner in which the doomed sailor was put to death could not be ascertained. No sooner was the dreadful ordeal over than permis sion was given for all the many sbipmasters to go on with their business as usual. But this wretched affair weighed upon the minds of our two young friends, and destroyed much of the pleasure tbey had felt at the prospect of speedily setting sail for home, though at the same time it increased their anxiety to get under way. Captain Tillinghast and the other commanders at Whampoa now utterly refused to employ another Chinese laborer, since the lives of their own men would not fo1 a moment be safe if made to depend on the uncertain thread of some wretched Chinaman's existence. .A pilot, however, each vessel must ha,e to take her down the river, and when at last tbe Gauges, completely loaded, was about dropping from her moorings the captain yielded her to the charge of an almond'. eyed Celestial. It was with great earnestness ti.lat Bob and Torn prayed inwardly for the personal well being of this man. The impression haunted them that some evil would happen to him; and tile sickening pos s1b11Ity that the tragedy of tbe Scotchman might be repeate
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How HE WON; I OR, A Brave Boys Adventures. By BROOKS McCORMICK.. S-YNOPSfS 01y the lad'R father, has heen stolen. Aleck retnrus to tlie Stella after 11otirying the autho1;ties of the rol>bery. ""l!ile lie is asleep on board, his consin Uugh anu a man named Livergood (who lll'Ol O to he the robbers) turn up a11cl take the Stella from port. When Aleclc awakens he fi11rts a girl, Flora nrowu, on board with him, also the box coutaiuing the rno11ey .After a series of excitiug adve11tnres Aleck and Flora secure possPssion of the yacht antl prepare to leave a little barhor into wl1icll she hatl been taken. A small schooner rtpp ea1s from hrhiud au and a man on boa.rel kuowu to Flora hails them. CHAPTER XIX. ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CONSPIRACY. HO is Mr. Hillburg, Flora?" asked Aleck, before he replied to the schooner. "I don't know who he is; butl have seen him at Mr. Livergood's house, and heard him called by that name,'' replied Flora. "He looked at me so much while I was in the room, that I thought be knew ruore ahont me tban I know about myself." "Schooner ahoy!" shouted the man whom Flora called Mr. Hillburg, for the second time. "The last time be was at the house, I got behind the door, and tried to bear what be said, for I thought he must be talking about me, be looked at me so sharply," continued Flora. She seemed to think that tbe presence of this man near the islRnd meant something. "On board the schooner I" replied Aleck to the bail. "Well, what did you hear, Flora?" be added, turning to the maiclen. "Notbing about myself; they were talking in a whisper about a cargo of something,'' J;eplied Flora. "A cargo of something I" exclaimed Aleck, to whom the words meant more than they did to her. "Don't let that man &ee you, Flora. if be bas not already doneso." "He bas seen me; he looked me full in the face at the moment I saw him," answered Flora. "What yacht is that?" demanded the man on the of the stranger. "The Stella, of Boston," replied Aleck, giving the name of the city he bad seen on the stern of the schooner. "What yacht is that?" "The Barnegat, Captain Flusbington, Qf New York," replieri the mnn whom Flora had pointed out as Mr. Hillburg. "Who is the owner of the t:ltelln?" "Mr. Gerald Bloom," replied Aleck. "Who?" demanded the stranger. "Gerald Ploom," repeated Aleck. "Is"Captain Flusbington on board?" "l'bat is my name," answered be who had done all the talking. "ThBre is some deviltry about tbat craft,'' added Aleck, in a low tone, "for the captain has two names." "I am sure the man that called hirnself Captain Flushington is Mr. Hillburg," said Flora. "ls your owner on board?" demancled the captain of the Barnegat, whatever his name might be "He is not." "Who is on board?" asked Hilllmrg, and his tones indicated that be was not a little irritated about something. "I am!" replied the skippe1 of the i::lteJJa, as be put the helm up aud allowed the yacht to fill away. "Is there no oue but a boy on board?" shouted the captain of the Barnegat. "That's all," shouted Aleck, as the l.Jreeze carried him out of bailing distance of the other v e ssel. "Hold on! Who is that girl on Loard?" yelled the captain of the Barnegat, as he ordered the man at the wheel to fill a way. Aleck rnade 110 reply to this question, bnt the other schooner, which was carrying gaff topfiails, aud was somewhat larger than the Stella, bracecl up lier sails, and soon showed that she could sail the faster of the two, with her greater press of sail. In less than half an hour she had lapped hn bow over the stern of the Stella, on the weather side, and had begun to take the wind out of her sails. "Stella ahoy!" shouted Hillbtllg again. "On board the Barnegat!" replieri Aleck, when he saw that be could not easily get a way from bis pursuru, for be could not leave the wheel to set the gaff topsails or tLe jib topsail. "You bad better answer me when I ask you a question, young man," continued Hillburg. Aleck was confident this was bis right name, or at least the one under wbi..:b be sometimes passed ''I have answered all your "No, you haven't! I asked you who that girl was." "Susan Green," replied Aleck, with a srnile, a.she looked at bis cump1mion. "That is not her name!" prntested the skipper of the Barnegat, with no little wrntb in his tones. "It's as much her name as yours is Flnsbiugton," retorted Aleck, as be looked over the deck of the other schooner to ascertajn, if be coul d, how many bancls sbe carried, for it began to l ook as though be had got out of one scrape only to stumble, almost in the twinkling of an eye, into-another, and possibly a worse one. "I don't want any of your impudence, young man!" growled Hillburg. "And I can get a.long without auy of yours!" retorted Aleck_ "Don't be saucy to him, Aleck, please don't," interposed Flora, in a low tone. "I'm not afrairl of him, and I mean to keep my end up," replied tlle skipper. "I tried to get a way from him, and he is sticking hls nose into my pie.''

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36 ARMY NA VY WEEKLY. "Keep a civil tongue in your head, or I will hoard r.ou and teac h you Letter manners!" returned Hillburg. 'I asked you for tbe girl's name." "And I gave you the name of Susan Green,'' replied Aleck, promptly. "That is not her nl\me !" "All right I If you kn o w her name, why do you ask me what it is?" said Aleck, as be started his sheets a little. He kept her away as he did so, anrl the distance between the two vessels began to wid e n. Aleck had taken the measure of the crew oe the Barnegat1 and he was conficlent she bad only a negro; who was in the waist, and the man at the wheel, besides Hillburg bimsolf. This was a very small sbip's company for a yacht, though quite large enough to mauage ber in any weather. Hillburg ordered tbe negro to start the fore sheet. The skipper of the Barnegat was evid.intly mad all the way through him, and it began to look as though he intended to discipline the bold skipper of the Stella. He slacked otf the main sheet himself, and gave an order to the man at the wheel, which Aleck could not hear. In. a few minutes the other yacht hacl resumed her former position. "Stella alloy I Now, young man, if you can't keep a civil tongue in your head, and answer my questious, I will give you a lesson that you will remem her as long as you live!" said Hillhurg, in an imperious tone. "I don't know of any reason why I should answer your questions if I don't choose to do so," rephed Aleck. ''If you don't answer me, I will give you a reason fur doing so I" returned Hillburg, in the most uverbearing manner. "ls Mr. Dornwooct on board of the Stella?" "I don't know Mr. Dornwood," replie
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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 37 "But you forget that I have tbCI two yacht guns; and I shall not wait for him to come alongside of the Stella again,'' answered Aleck. ''I can give bim a few shots before be comes near euongh to use his pistol." "Perhaps he bas yacht guns as well as you." "Probalily he has at least one of them; but it will be of no use to him without ammunition; and it took me 80me time to get mine ready." Aleck watched the progress of tbe Barnegat with tbe deepest interest. He was satisfied tbat she was gaining on him, though it would take a good while for her to overhaul the Stella. Something might happen to favor him. Tb ere were three vessels in sight, tbongh they -Were a long way of!', and, as he was well with the Gloster fishermen, he might obtain assistance from one of them. ''Ob, Aleck'" suddenly exclaimed Flora, springing to ber feet in her excitemei.; t. "What's the matter?" asked tbe skipper, who saw nothing to alarm him. ''There is tbe Comet coming out fnim the island," added Flora, pointing to the northeast, where theisland lay. "That's bad, for she can head us oft', and we shall have to fight two of them." "We are certainly lost, Aleck," cried she, covering her face with her bands. "Not a bit of it, Flora. Don't give up yet. The odds are against us, but we may come out of it all right yet," replied be, putting the helm down a little, and giving a pull to each of the sheets. "Oue of them will be sure to catch us." "I have no doubt we can outsail the Comet, for sbe is not a yacht, 1rnd doesu 't cany as much sail as the Stella. Keep up your courage, Flora. I feel as though we could Leat of!' both of them." "It looks as though we were almost sure to be caught," added she. It looked so to Aleck, bnt be would not give up. His fortune of thirty thousand dollars, mo1e or less, was on tbe deck of tbe yacht, and be was bound to win iu the conflict before him. Tbe chances were against him since tbe Comet appeared, for she bad driven him from bis course, and given the Barnegat a better opportunity to come up with him. He asked Flora to take the wheel again, ant! she was glad to have something to do. She bad been observing Aleck as he steered the yacht, and she felt as though slie could do it better than before. Tbe sKipper went to the waist, where be bad left the guns, and Loth of tbem were loaded 1'0ady for use. He moved them both to tbe port side, and adjusted the breechings. The Barnegat was on the port quarter, maneuvering to come up with the Stella at some point ahead, while tbe Comet was not yet in a position to be considered at all. At the end of an hour the Barnegat was within bailing distance of the Stella, and the time for action had come. The Comet was at least half a mile of!' on the starboard quarter. Flora stlli had tbe helm, and by this time sbe bad greatiy improved iu steering. She hardly removed her gaze from the compass, and practice enabled ber to keep the vessel quite steady on her course. "Stella, ahoy!" shouted Hillburg, when the pursuer had corne still nearer. Aleck decided at once to make no reply to the bail, for nothing could be gained by any more talk, when each party perfectly understood the other. "If you don't give up tLat girl, I will run into you anr\ sink you I" shouted Hillburg. Aleck took no notice of this threat, for be was pointing the gun which contained the solici shot. In relation to eac-b otLer the t" o vessels were in nearly the same position as tLou11b they had been at anchor, and the skipper bad uo allowances to make for motion, or auy tbing else. However it might be with the captain of tbe Barne gat, Aleck did uot believe that the man at the helm and the negro would stand fire. They had been engaged for a peaceable occupation, even if it was in handling contraband ogods, and they \'.Ould not be willing to ha\ e their beads shot of!' by remaining at tbair posts on boa1d. Aleck dicl not consider himself a skillful gunner, aud the most be could trust himself to do was to point the gun at the bull of the vessel, and not ettempt to come down to tbe fine points of art. But be took the utmost care in training the piece. Hillburg did not seem to understand what be was about, or be regarded the yacht guns as harmless, as they certainly were under ordinary circumstances. Aleck did not expect to kill or even wound any one with thf' shot be "as about to fire; but after the experience of tbe morning in the cove, he was surn he could bit the vessel, and that was all be desired. Be ained at the trunk of tbe cabin, hoping to make the splinters fly, and merely let the captain of tbe Barnegat know what be could do "lam going to fire now, Flora. Don't be alarmed," said he to bis companion, to avoid giving her a sudden start. "I am not afraid, Aleck," she answered, with her f'yes still on the compass. Tbe skipper took one more sight along the gun, and then pulled tbe "lock string. Tbe report was quite as noisy as ever, but they were used to the noise, and neither of them minded it. 'Ibis time the object fired at was to windward of the Stella, and the smoke all weut over to leeward at once. A tremendous shout from the standing room of the Barnegat was bearrt, and the vessel broached to at tbe same moment. It was the man at tbe belw who uttered the yell, as be fled from bis position to the cabin. At the same moment the negro "as seen in the act of disappearing through tbe fore-scuttle into the cook-room. liillburg alone was left on tbe deck of the vessel, and be was standing on tbe trunk. Aleck bad not hit where be had intended; in fact be came very near not bitting the Barnegat at all. The snlid lump of lead bad struck the after corner of the trnnk, six feet from the point at which the gunner had aimed. But perbap,s the shot had done more execution than it would bad it struck m any other place, for the entire corner was ripped off, and the pieces were scattered over tbe standing room. Hillburg was yelling like a madman, and calling to the helmsman. (To BE CONTINUED.)

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SYNOPi:lLS OF CIIA.PTERS PUBLISHED IN "GOOD NEWS." Tliis opens at the cattle 1ancli of Jack Waldron, where two of his neighbor's little bo:irs have just arrived with the iuformation tha. t their father's ranch has been raided by Utes. Old .Jack Waltlron and lJ1s eowboys msta.ntly go to the 11eig-l1hor's assista.11ce. aud though they fi11d his house in 1\1r. Wilson is. unharmed, but is grievin.g over the loss of his two boys, wholll he believes ]lave been taken cnpt1ve_ by the Indrnns .. Jack W alflvon nia.kes acq1miuta11ee ot Gi!hert the Tmpper, a l\Hy of seventeen, wlHl_l>rnws hun tlie.rn1portantrnfor111atiou that there is.a ire11eral npl'ising a111011g the I11dia11s. Gilbert tl1en snher 111essage. A. l>u\ 1ia .rnetl Gns Warren translates the latter after considerable stndy, aucl information la sccurett to canse Waltlrou and his companions to thinlt that Gilbert tJ;e T1apper is the boy found on the pla111s. Th.e torn letter mentions a qnalltity of goltl nnggets tl1e writer had sec1eted, and the cr1ptogra1n partly tlescr!bes then location. Shortly artf>r tlui soh'iJ1g or the cryptogram, Gus Warren ancl his Jerry Jose then way while.out on the plains in a sttnrl hlizzarrl. A. few years previous to the e,ents already desenhetl, Bnckskm Bob makes a confident of a post trailer named C1tptain Barton, aud the latter, a shr11wd, unscrnpnlons man who ae!!s a possible r01tune 1n the afi"Hir, asks Bob to \Jri11g his ally, a11otber "sqnaw" rnan called Grizzlr Pete, to a conference m the trader's store. Bucks.kin Bob goes In sea.ich of his ruate, leaving the post trader waiting for tbem. CHAPTER XVII. KNAVES IN COUNCIL. mF ALL the strange things that ever happened since the world began, this is the strangest, soliloquized the trader when he saw the squaw man mount his pony and ride away. "So the secret, which all the people about the post have for years been trying to fathom, is out at last, a.ad I've got it in my keeping I Something tells me tbat this business bad better be hurried up aud got through with before Arizona Charley and Gilbart return from the Navajo na tion; for if it isn't, I doo't believe it will be done at all. If Gil brut isn't ready to spring something on Pete and Bob tlie very millute be gets back, I shall miss ruy guess. I wish I had thought to ta.ke a copy of that smallest paper, so that I could study on it between times. It's the queerest looking writing I ever saw.'' But as tbe trader had not tb0ught to take a copy of the important document, he was obliged to wait, with as much patience as he could, till. Grizzly Pete came back with his partner. He had ample leisure to think over the strange story to which he bad listened, and to lay out plans for the investment of his share of the miner's treasure, for it was three days beforetbesquaw man made his appearance, in company with Buckskin Bob. Fortunately the trader was alone, and Pete took the liberty to close and lock the door. ''I bad the hardest kind of work to get Bob to come here with me," said the squaw man beginning the conversation before Captain Barton had time to open Ins lips, 'cause he thiuks I am lay in' a scheme to come some kind of a trick onto him. I want you to tell him jest what I said to you when I showed yon them papers t'otber
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ARMY AND NA VY WEEKLY. 39 cheat you outen your sbar' of the stuff that's bid in that canyon, pull out them dokyments so't the cap'n can take a copy of 'em, Thar's mine," he added, placing bis own papers upon the counter in front of the trader. Buckskin Bob reluctantly complied, at the same time remarkini;: that he couldn't see why it was necessary that the captain shoulrl bave a copy of tbe papers. If .be could read them, what was the reason be did not do it at once? "I've explained that to you more'u ,.. hundrnd times already," answered Pete, impatiently. "It's like what we told the lujuns: the words that's writ onto one of them papers is big medicine, that cau 't be read as soon as you look at 'em. Ain't that so, cap'n? Thar's a bidden meanin' to 'em that's got to be studied out a latter at a time, au' the cap'u is the only man on the reserv ation tbat can do it. Ain't that so, cap'n?" 1 1t is nothing but tbe truthi..:' was the reply, "and to prove it, I am willing that .l:lob should take a copy of it to any officer or civilian about the pos and ask him to make sense of it. I don't expect to do it myself u11der a week or two1 and shall think myself lucky if I work it oui in tbat tillle. There's one question I forgot to ask you: have you made any etl'ort to find this treas ure?'' "Wal, I reckon," replied Buekskin Bob. "Wouldn't you have looked that canyon over a dozen times if you had known thar was a hundred thousand dollars' wuth of nuggets an' dust somewheres in it? But our lookin' didn't do no good. The secret of it isrigbt iu them tbar words," added Bob, plaeing bis finger upon the cryp toe:ram. "How much be we goiu' to give you for readinT it for us?" "Whatever you please," added the trader readily. "But I shall earu a third of it before I am abie to tell you what is written on these papers.'' He put the two pieces of the letter together and read it very easily; but the cryptogram bothered him. He scratched his head in deep perJ?lexity while he looked at it. He had never seen or heard of one before, and was utterly at a loss to know how to go to work to solve it. The letter ran as follows: Sweetwater Canyon, August 16, 18-. I started from the mines six weeks ago in company with my little boy, Gilbert Hubbard Nevius, and seven men, whom I thought to be my friends, to cross the plai11s on my way home. My wife died almost a year ago, and I could not stay away from my friends any longer. I lived in Clayton, Mass. I have worked hard, and saved nearly a hundred thousand dollars' worth of dust and nuggets, and brought it with me on a pack mule. Since I started I have grown suspicious of my companions, three of whom are none too good to knock me on the head in order to obtain possession of my hard earned treasure. I have begun to fear I shall never see the States alive; and this feeling has so worked upon me of lata, that I decided to cache my valuables, and have done so to-night while standing guard, all my companions being asleep. If I fall by the hands of my associates, the inclosed cryptogram will tell the person into whose possession it may fall, if he is smart enough to read it, where my wealth may be found. I pray Heaven that it may fall into the hands of some honest man who will see that my boy gets his rights. Gilbert Hubbard Nevius. "Now thar's two things that I cau 't see into,'' said Buckskin Bob, as the trader returned from the back p,art of the store with writing materials iu his hand. 'One is, why that man Nevius, if that's his name, put them papers into Gilbert's pocket. How did he know that the boy wouldn't be killed as well as himself?" "He didn't know it," replied Captain Barton. "He took bis chances on it. That was all he could do. You wouldn't have bad him put the papers into the cache with the nuggets, would you? If he had done that, you never would have found them.'' "That's so," said Bob, thoughtfully. "But still be might as w ell have done it, as to go to work an' kiver up the birlin' place of bis money in sicb wurds as tbtom he has put into that smallest paper. That's the other thing 1 can't see into." The trader said be couldn't see into it either; and then he told himself, confidentially, that he had a pretty clear idea of the object be had in view when he wrote the thing he called a cryptogram. Mr. Nevins of course knew that bis companions woulrl not take time to study it out, and that no igno-rant person could do it. His only hope was that, if any tliiug happened to himself, his boy, as well as the :papers tliat were sewed fast iu his pocket, would fall mto the bands of some army officer who would take interest enough in the matter to work out the cryptogram, hunt up the bwied treasure, and see that Gilbert was established in his righ t.s. If his fears proved to be unfocrnded, if be reached the States alive a11d unha1 med, be could take bis boy home, come back to Sweetwater Canyon, and the cryptogram wou!rl guide hiru to the place where nis nuggets were conceali>d. Captain Barton made careful copies of both the letter and the cryptogram, returner! the papers to tl.Je squaw men, gave each of tl.Jem a cigar, and saw them ride a way toward their tepees. Tb en he set himself to the hardest task be bad ever undertaken. Half a dozen words from any bright schoolboy would bave put him on the right track at once; but uot knowing where to begin, be was as helpless as one "bo cannot swim is in deap water. Days grew into weeks and weeks into moutLs, and Captain B11rton made no progress whatever with his work; but be succeeded in arousing tLe ire as well as the suspicions of Pete Axley and hlll friend, Buckskin Bob who told each other that their new ally was up to something. But the squaw men were mistaken; they wronged the trader. I do not mean to say that Captain Barton would not have appropriated the entire eontents of the cache to his own use if be could have seen any way to do it without risk to himself; but be couldu 't. He worked bard and faithfully at the cryptogram, and with no thought of attempting a fraud upon the squaw men but the writing defied all bis efforts. It kept the secret that bad been confided to it. At the eud of six mouths Captain Barton became quite disgusted with bis failure to solve the crypto gram, banged tile lid of his desk upon it and the letter, and ueal"iy got himself into serious trouble with Pete Axley by denouncing him aud bis:partner as frauds of the worst sort. He told tbem that there was not a word of truth in their story, that they had deliberately deceived him, and that they and Gilbert and the nuggets and everything else that was in the cache might go to Guinea together, before be would bother his head about them any more. Of course tbis made Grizzly Pete and Buckskin Bob desperately angry, but they did not "boycott" tbe trader on account of it, for his store was too good a loafing place, aud there was no one else about there who woulil trust them for tobacco. Tbey bung around him just aR they had always done, hoping almost against hope that some fine day something would "turn up" in tbeir favor, anrl they often surprised Captain Barton with a pencil in bis baud and a piece of paper before him, working upon the cryptogram. 'l'his always eu con raged them, for it pro'"ed that the trader still cl111Jg to tbe idea that he could probe the mystery to the bot tom. Tbree years passed away, and during that time all the officers of the garrison who were stationed there when Gilbert the trapper went to tbe Navajo nation, had been ordered to other posts, many of the old government scouts bad disappeared, but Captain Barton and the squaw men shll remained. One day, while the store, as usual, was full of hangers on, the express rider employed to cany the mail once a week between the agency and :Marengo, reported that on his way up be had passed a heavily loaded mule train, which was beading toward Fort Shaw. "I didn't know any of them," said the rider, "but the head man told me tbat he balonged here; that this reservation is the only home he has now, though he used to have another down in Californy. He ain't nothing but a brat of a boy, but he's lightning.' been down to the Navajo nation trading, and srnce he's been gone he's lost his partner, Arizona Charley, and picked up another that a.in 't no slouch, if there's any faith to ue put in looks. Know him, any of you?" Yes, there were three men who recognized Gilbert the trapper in this meager description of the "bead man" of the train, but they were so surprised to bear this sudden and unexpected announcement of his return to the agency, tbat for a moment or two they could not reply to the express rider's question. CHAPTER XVIII. GILBERT SURPRISES THE SQUAW HEN. During the three years that Gilbert the trapper had

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40 ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. heen absent from the reservation he had never once been forgotten by the men who were interested in him aud his fortunes; but he had been so long a way that they Legan to feal' they should not hear from him again. Since Grizzly Pete took Captain Barton into his confi de11l'e, the trader harl been impatient for the wauclerer's return; but tile kuowleuge, so unexpectedly conveyed to him, hat Gilbert was wiLhin a sbol't clistn11ce of Lb9 post and makiug llis way toward it, almost took his bl'eath 11way. His old feal' tbat Gilhel't might "spriug sometbiug" 011 the mnu who clRimed to be his fatl1er, came ba1Hled his bands to the squaw rnen. "You are Grizzly Pete, and you are Buckskin Bob, t!1e men who s cved 111y life years ago," he went on. "I should have tlurnked you for it l ong be fore this time, but I didn't kuow anything about it until I lifid been abseut from the agency more than a year, anrl then .Arizona Charley tolrl me.'' 'l'bis speech struck every oue du1ub. The trader opened his mouth and aud looked first at the squaw men and then at Gilbert. The former were almost overwhelmed with surprise and terror, while tbe expression on the boy's face was a curi0us mixture of triulllph, satisfaction and anger. "Didn't 1 s y that if he didn't something on those two men when he callle back I should miss my guess?'' thought Captain Barton, turning to his counter and pretending to arrange sometbing there, so that the expression of bis own face 111ight uot be seen. "I tell you our g,une is hlocked; the boy bas got the thing in his own hnnds. He'll pocket the treasure to which he is heir, and Pete anJ Bob are as good as hanged this minute." ''Why, how-where-did Al'izona Charley find out anything about it?" stammered Grizzly Pete, looking very unlike the desperate fellow he was anxious to have every one think be was. "Charley wasn't tbar or tbarabouts, was be?" "No; but Josh Sanders was there, and he told Charley all about it." Gl'izzly Pete's face was a sight to behold while Buck skin Bob was almost ready to drop. Josh ::launders was tbe very man tl1ey were afrain the boy mnved toward the fl0or. "l dou't know, and I dou't 111uch care. I've plenty of time at my disposal. I sliall keep p;oing until I find a cash customer, if I havE' to go
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.ARMY Ai. D NAVY WEEKLY. 41 gaudy colors of the blankets never failed to attract the ey e of the ludian, wl.Jo would give anywhere from two to half a dozen pouil's for a pair of them, according to his wenlt It ; and if you call the ponies wortlt twenty to forty dollars each, you can easily figure up what the blankets would bring. With some such thoughts as these in his mincl, Captain Barton beckoned Gill.Jert to the back part of the store, aud held an earnest ved in com ing to the ageucy. When he was out of sight the trarler ope11ticl the door and admitted Grizzly Pete and Buckskin Bob. "Wuat took him away in sich a hurry?" inquired the former, whose face bad not yet resnmecl its natural color. ''Thar's something about this whole business that makes me feel all over as if a feller bad come up belnnd me an' dropped a piece of the coldest kind of ice do,vn my jacket. "I don't feel jnst right myself\." said the trader, "al though I clou't know why I shou d be afraid. There's a present he left for you two," be added, placing his bands upon two pairs of blankets that were lying on the counter. "1 woulrln't tech 'em for no money in this wide world,'' exle iuformfttio11 from her, lie leaves t11e oon1pany aud returns to Cllicago. CHAPTER XXXV. SUCCESS COMES STRANGELY. m;-l bis return to Chicago, Bert went back to Mrs. Rbelby 's boarding-house, aucl was col'
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42 ARMY AND A VY WEE.KL Y. On account of the income from his dramatic engage ment, Bert had spent but little of bis uu
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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 4il years, and bas not dared to show himself at old borue, or among bis olrl friends, because he was liable to be arrested ou the old charge.'' Ralph looking down upon the floor, aud his f.eatures were working convulsive ly. Bert guesse.rl wn .at was passing through bis mind, and paused to give him time. He looked up after a while, and asked: "What would you have me do?" "Testify to what you know. It will clear my father, and be can come home once more." "But it will condemn Albert Marlowe." "Why not let it? He is the guilty man. Have :you so much reason to like Albert Marlowe that you will not do this act of justice?" "No" Ralph Harding burst out, and bis fa"e yvore an expression of resentment. "Be has used rne like a dog. It was through me that be. be
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4 4 ,ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. MAP OJ' THE GROUN. D S OF THE U S .NAVAL ACADEMY ANNAPOLIS. MD THE AN NAPOLIS NAVAL ACADEMY. B Y LIE U T EN AN T W AL LAC E JONES, U.S. N (j]ESTLING on au arm of the mighty Chesa peake B a y is the quaint old town of Annapolis, Md. It is a sleepy place, with crooked streets and colonial houses, and very little of tbe hum of traffic aud toil It bears a nationa l prominence, however; as the site of the Government Naval In 1 8 45, the lion. George Bancroft, tben Secretary of the .l'iavy, suc ceeded in f ounding a national school for the training of narnl cadets. The project had bee n l o ng in mind, but it was left 'to the e n ergetic efforts of S ecre t ary Bancroft to bring it t o a s u cce ssful c onsummation A number of a c r es d eede d to tlle Government by Maryland, was take n p ossessio n o f, and the s chool formally o pened October 10, 1 845 w i t h Commanal cadet.

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TUE ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 45 IN THE FIRST WATCH. By NAVAL CADET OGDEN PAYNE, U.S. N. m THICK squally evening oil' the Cape of Good Hope, with a freshening wind and every appearance of a dirty night, and over the tumbling sea the man-of-war Truxton plunging along, making the best of her wa_,. towal'd Oapi; Town, Noting a nasty look about tbe weather, the skipper harl o!'rlered topsails to be reefed at evenit1g quarters, then resetting t'gallant sails over all, thel'.e was the ship snug for the night. It is the first watch: two bells (9 P.M.) have been struck, and the "rounds" go11e. The vessel is iu charge of tbe second !ie11tenant, who had joined about six months previously to fill a death vacancy from fever on tbe gold coast. As for the C'rew, the boatswain's mate a while ago bawlerl "Out pipes," and the watch bElow havedl'opped iuto squarls on the forecastle for a parting chat before being piped down half a11 hour hence. ln this way tbe reader is introduced to Tom Hodge, captain of the foretop, and bis chwn, Jack Musters, who lounge against a gun-caJ"riage, and disC'uss in undertones foe C'hances of getting into port, while they a'lticipate the delights of frPsh meat, soft tack, and a run asuore on leave. The offieeJ" of the watC'h hasu't done witli tl:.e maintop let, a11d his voice falling at intervals upon tbe ears o the chums, Musters at length remarks: "He's giving us a spell off to-night, Tom, but not for long, I expect; our tum will come preseutlyl you see. We used to rub along all square, but you don t seem to do anything right uow, eh?" ''No, aud uever shall, I'm afraid,'' rejoined Hodge moodily. "I shall ba ve to keep my lamps well trimmed to scrape through tbe commission at all; he's got bis knife iuto me, Ind intends to pay off an old score." "Row's tbat?" exclaimerl Musters, almost with a stal't. "You were never shipmates before!" "Ab, that was a slip, but perhaps I bad better make a clean breast of it now, topmate; it can't doauy harm that I see, and may htllp me some clay if tbiugs come to th worst-ouJy keep it dark, chum. So here goes: "As you say, we were never shipmates. but we know each other pr.itty well, worse luck I The fact is, we both hail from tbEI same village, where his father was tbe parson; miue leaserl a small farm from the rich owner, and I helped the pater. The keeper at the park burl a dnugbter about ruy owu aga, and as the farm duties ofteu led me past the lodge, Fanny Fielrl and I be carne i11timate, and tbe end of it was I fell in love. Fa11ny liked me, too, I thought; but she never wanted for a suitor, and, like most pretty girls, she was perhaps just a tri:ll.e vain: so when the second luff came home from China, and was promoted to mate on paying oft', I rather fancy he wasn't frowned upon for admiring the C'harmillg young woman who, five years ba fore, as a slip of a girl, bad often him through ti.le lodrE gates 011 his visits to the farm. "There was 11otbing s1iing we fell across each other accidentRlly iu the fir plantation. I was for passing on home, but wish me au ironical good-night, lie adrled a mocking allusion to young country lovers. Rnd I could think of nothing better at the moment 'than to tell him hA wonld be best off to sea again, whereupon be raised hi rirlin!( whip menacingly, but I hounC'ed in, wnmched it out of his grnsp, and fiu11g it over tbe hedge. He was plucky enougb, l Eancy, but I knew that if it came to fistkutfs I should knock seven bells out of him and damage his figurehearl-he had seen me in tbe afternoon at tile sports, you know. So, alter slanging each other a bit, we sheered oil' without coming to close quarters. "l"auny was mortified at the turn of affairs, and would not speak to me. Partly on that account, partly because farming didn't pay, and it seemed a poor lookout trudging a cart all my days, I determined to leave the plowtail and go to sea myself. Then Fanny came rouud; we madf:! it up and became engaged; but I stuck to 111y guns about going to sea, so it was not till after four years and more that we got spliced, and started bnnseke,.ping with a bit of prize-money I picked up on the Brazilian station. As for the mate, I never clapped eyes on him again after that evening on the plantation-night upon ten years ago now-until be came over the side to join us at Lagos. I knew the cut of his jib at once; by the same token be recognized me, and I felt sure there were breakera ahead. A pause ensuell, then hlustel's remarked: "Why, Tom, it all sounds like what you read of in stories 1 Now I see why he's down on you. But cheer up, old fellow, let's hope tilings will turn out all right. Any way, I'll stand by you, topruate, and remember what you've told be." After the above recital there was silence between the chums; botb appeared to fall into reverie, out of which they were at length aroused by peremptory orders jerked out in quick "Let go the life buoy I" "Away lifeboat's crew l" "Square the mainyarcl I" Meautime Tom Hodge, divining it was a rase of man overboard, with tue burned ejaculation, "Look after the yard, Jack," ran swiftly along the ship's waist, across the quarterdeck, mounted the stern rail, and plungi11!? at once into the strnck out vigorously in the chrection of the life buoy's tiuy beacon light. After a while be fancied be bearll a faint cry for help, and ceased paddling to listen. Turning in tlie direC'tion of the sounds, be gazed intently, but C'ould ruake out nothing, when sudclenly, while engulfed in the lowest trough of tbe waves, he caught a glimpse ot what looked like au arm convulsively shooting up against the sky-line. Raising an encouraging cheer, he spurted forward and reached the cast away, who was struggling in extremity, and on the point of going under. At the same time a glimmer of radiance from the life buoy shot atbwal't tbe waves and revealed the pallid featmes of the officer of the watch. Hodge by this tillle found himself a good deal fagged, and thought it best to husband his remaiuing strength by supporting the sufl'erer rather than exhaust himself by attemptiug to reach the buoy, though that was 11ot far ofl'. All'eady be could bear the coxswain urging tbe rowers: "Give way, boys; put your backs into it!" and tbe oars rattling in tbe rowlocks as the lifeboat's crew responded with a will. Oh, the strain of those terrible fiye minutes before the boat carne up I But come up at last she did, and her crew, quick to take in tbe state of affairs, let off such a hearty "Hurrnh I" for their bra re ship-mate tbat they beard and answered it aboard tbe frigate, hove to nearly a mile away. The lieutenant, whether dead or alh e, it was hard to tell, was lifted into the stern sheets, aud Tom Hodge ditto. All's well that ends well-and tbat is bow this story ends. Hodge received nn ovation for llis pluck. It was toucb-aud-go with the officer of the watch, for be struck something in falliug overboard, and was da11ger ously injmed. For a long time he hoverer! fitfulJy between life and deatb, but eveutually be pulled -through, though obliged to go about with a silver plate iu bis bead. Ou becoming convalesc.,nt a11cl learning who was his I escuer. be sent fol' him to his cabin. What passed between them nobody ever kuew; but even the secoudclass boys could see tbe lieutenant was a chauged man. No louger the barassing officer, be became sympathetic to all, and thenceforward took a speC'ial interest in Hodge's welfare. When he was appoiuted toacommand of bis own, Tom Hodge went with him, got bis "arrant first chance-it was all cut anrl dl'ied, you know-and contiuued to be the skipper's right-baud man for years, ship after ship, until the captain went on the retired list with a peusiou for wounds.

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GREETING! This number, the first issue of tbe Army and Navy Weekly, is respectfully submitted to your consideration. We state at tbe very start that we have no fear of its reception. We are fully confident that tbe boys of the United States, to use au every-day expression, know a good thing when they see it. Tbe Army and Navy Weekly is a "good thing" for many reasons. It is clean, bright and wholesome. It has an artistic cover very pleasing to tbe eye. It contains more reacling matter than any similar juvtmile publication. It has a ,:!rester variety of stories, and a better class of contributers than can be founrl an::iwbere else. In fact, it is the triumphant outcome of months of cost.ly experiments aud painstaking effo1ts. * The Army anrl Weekly is simply tbe result of a pertinent question. The publishers asked themselves, "Why cannot modern methods, U}J-to-date ideas, improved machinery and push be applied to a juvenile publication as well as to an adult magazine?" 'rheydid not stop at asking the question, but went ahead to prove that such a thing was possible. They called into use modern methods, improved machinery and push, and now they place the result before thE> reading juvenile public. * It bas beeu tbe custon1 of publishers for too long a period to treat boys as mere children. And to think that anything is good enough for them simply because they are boys. It bas become a fatal mistake, as many pnhlishers have found to their cost. They now realize that even a boy bas taste and rliscrimination. And that it is really worth while to gh e him what be wants. * That is where the publishers of the Army and Navy Weekly come in. They !Jave entered the field with a publication unsurpassed in any feature. This is uo idle boast, as a glance through the present number will prove. But that is not all. This issue is the first issuemark that well in your mind! It is only a beginning, as it were. Tb ere are better features in view, better stories and more of them. rt is like the beginning of any publication-small at first and with plenty of room for improvement. Tbe Army and Navy Weekly is the monarch of juvenile publications now, but it will be donbly a monarch-in fact a whole royal falllily-before many months have passed. * Wbat do we give you now? Or, to put it in other words-what don't we give you now? Have you ever before been offered a greater of fascinating reading matte1? If your incliuations run toward stories of West Point lif yon have one written by a well known army officer, himself a graduate of the 'Point,'' whence Grant and Lee and Sherman, anrl a host of others marched to fame. If you prefer tales of tbe navRI academy, with its pranks and salty air, and ting13 of the romantic ocean, you have them, also by a grad-uate. If you desire stories of adventure in the wild West or in tbe close confines of city life you can find them in the pages of tbe Army and Navy Weekly. is our boast-a greater variety of intel"estinl( stories for Jess money tban is offered in any other publication. * All these features are to be permanent-that is th best part of it. There will be a series of West Pain& stories, a series of Naval Academy-tales, and four Or' more serials constantly running. Not to mention the short stories, sketches, special articles by competent writers, departments, contests, etc., etc., specially frankly acknowledge to yourself tbat tbe "boy" has at: last secured his just dues-a splendid, up-to-data weekly, artistic, Rttractive, well printed and replete with fascinating stories. And all for five cents. * If you have not already seen the compiementary let ters from General Miles and Rear Admiral Gherardir puulished on the cover of this number, turn back and. read tberu. Tbey will
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ARMY AND NAVY WEEKLY. 47 Correspondence. (The answers published in this number of Army and Navy Weekly are in reply to letters sent to Good News.) K. J. O. X., Anoka, Minu.-It does not take many words to tell "bow self-made men are made." Tbe secret is honesty, perseverance, aud self-sacrifice. Practice this combination and you will succeed. T. H., Eagle Pass, Tex.-lt would take too much space to describe iu detail tbe manufacture of the n egatives, and tbeu you would not be iu a position to make them to advantage. It is much cheaper to buy the -plates from a regular photograbic supvly store. C. E. P., Cbal'lottesville, Va.-Tbe life of a hgbtbouse keeper is about the most lonesome life you could have selected. Just imagine being shut up in a tower about a mile or more from land, with only one or, perhaps, two persons to converse with for weeks at a H. M., Sbilob, Obio-Tbe only way to secure a posi tion in an office in New York or Brooklyn is to watch the want advertisements in the New York daily papers, or else get some friend in tbe city to do it for you. We do not think you would be satisfied, as office work in the larger cities does uot amount to mucb. It would be better for you to remain at home aud learn a trade' or a profession. R. C. D., Janesville, Wis.-Hard work will never dimmish tbe growth of a boy, unless he is of a puny build or is afflicted with some organic tl'Ouble. On the contrary, it will make him stronger in botb mind and body, and better fit him for bis life-work. His labor, however, sbould be varied with healthful recreatiou, as otherwise tbe development ol his intellect will not keep pace with that of his muscles. Soap Bubbles, Buffalo, N. Y .-Your first question was answered in a general way some time ago, aud :r,ou, no doubt, have seen it. 2. Bunions may be cured, 1t is said, by applying iodine freely twice a day with a feather. 3. Rub the lips with cold cream or glycer ine once a week iu winter and avoid biting or moistening tbem if you desire to keep them fre>m chapping. P. J. D., Auburn, N. Y.-1. Point tbe camera in the dire
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W'f. present to our readers this week an excellent portrait of Arthur Sewall who is widely known and admired in connection with the famous depart ment Short Talks With the Boys," conducted by him for many years in Good News. Mr. Sewall's invaluable advice to the boys, and his kindly personal traits, have endeared him to a large circle of juvenile readers. He is now in editorial charge of the Army and Navy Weekly.

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. 48--LARGE MAGAZINE PAGEs--48 < The Brightest Juvenile Publication in Existence. & & & ILLUMINATED & COVER & & & FOUR SERIAL STORIES BY THE BEST WRITERS. TWO COMPLETE NA VAL AND MILITARY STORIES. SKETCHES, SPECIAL ARTICLES, DE p ARTMENTS. .:!-JI. .:!-.;t. .;t. .;t. .;t. tr ALL FOR FIVE CENTS. < Never before in the history of juvenile literature has a pub lisher offered so much for the money. Boys' weeklies in the United States have stood still until the advent of Army and Navy. It is a convincing proof of what a juvenile publication can be made when modern methods, improved machinery, and up-to-date ideas are used. This number is only a forerunner of the many bright things the publishers have in store for the readers of Army and Navy Weekly. Keep your eye on it. .;t. .;t. .;t. .;t. .;t.